Returning to Work or Volunteering

Deciding to return to work, change career, study a new subject or try volunteering, after a spinal cord injury, is an important decision. It might take time to adjust to your new situation before thinking about work or volunteering.

Both work and volunteering offer lots of benefits for your mental and physical health. However, we understand that returning to work after spinal cord injury can sometimes feel daunting. To ensure you’re fully supported, we provide a range of different services aimed at helping you navigate your next move. These include:

• Telephone support

  Got a question about your CV? Or how to find a career path that feels right for you? Perhaps you’re just looking for general advice? That’s why offer one-to-one telephone support. In these sessions, our Back to Work Coordinator will provide guidance, advice, and top tips to ensure you’re confident about your next move.

• Employment Toolkit

  Our employment toolkit shares lived experience from those who’ve made similar transitions to the one you’re considering. These videos reveal what different people, with a spinal cord injury, have learnt about work and volunteering.

• Skills for Work courses

  Our Skills for Work course gives you the opportunity to enhance your CV, receive expert advice on job hunting, and practice interview techniques, all within a supportive and encouraging environment. The aim is to equip you with all the tools to confidently return to work.

• Back to Work Careers Fair

  Are you considering returning to work after a spinal cord injury? Interested in hearing from recruitment experts on how to strengthen your job applications? Our Back to Work Careers Fair may be perfect for you!

• Back to Work Bitesize

  Our Back to Work Bitesize service is a series of fortnightly webinars hosted on Zoom, covering a range of important subjects and delivered by people who understand what you may be going through. Topics covered include skill identification, CV writing, and reasonable adjustments in the workplace after spinal cord injury.

“Working is important to me. It pays the bills, provides structure to my day and means that I really enjoy my leisure time. But most importantly it gives me reason to look forward to getting out of bed in the morning.”

Lucy

If you’re ready to return to work, there are reasonable adjustment legislations and government schemes, such as Access to Work, that may help.