*Name has been changed.
When you signed up for Daisy Chain’s employability service, what support were you looking for?
Initially looking for additional employability support into getting into a workplace that would take in to account my confirmed diagnosis and that was supportive. I wasn’t aware about the ASD workplace passports and that they could be used until I discussed it with the employability team and engaged with the service.
At that time, what challenges were you facing as an autistic/neurodivergent adult when it came to looking for and achieving paid work?
My difficulties were around my concerns about my age and my late diagnosis, as well as how difficult the interview process would be and that workplaces wouldn’t suit me. I struggle with formal interview processes as I get easily distracted. Interviews also feed into my personal anxiety as they ask a lot of questions about yourself. I was hoping that the employability service would provide me with support and techniques to assist with these problems.
When you first began accessing support from the employability team, how would you describe your self-confidence and wellbeing at that point?
When I was just accessing the service, I was initially quite apprehensive because I thought there was an age limit and that Daisy Chain was for children. In the past when looking for other support I was out of the support bracket. My wellbeing and confidence were quite low because I was still looking for jobs and attending interviews, but I felt I didn’t have the extra confidence to carry me through. I was applying for jobs and attending interviews with help from other services but I just needed something extra to help me get across the door.
Were you optimistic about the future?
At the time, no I was not optimistic and my confidence was pretty low, so much that my job coach at universal credit had noticed. Once I began accessing the employability service my personal outlook became more positive and my job coach noticed. People also noticed that I was more sure of myself and my positive attitude had improved.
What support did you receive from the employability team, and how did it help?
I was given an initial consultation and went through the induction process and vocational questionnaire. I was offered the opportunity for a work placement at Altrad. My work placement was extended by two weeks, and after that I was given the opportunity for paid work at Altrad. The work placement helped me because I finally had the opportunity for an employer to give me space to prove myself and demonstrate the skills I do have. It gave me space and time to fit in which you don’t get in a formal interview process. The work placement helped me demonstrate my skills. To no end it was the best thing for me. Space is good for autistic people, most places don’t give us that chance. The process wasn’t stressful.
Why is it so important for autistic adults to have access to personalised support from people who understand autism?
It is particularly important for autistic adults because the longer we are out of work and the older we are the more experiences we have had. It is more likely we’ve had negative experiences at formal employment. Unless you are given a ‘golden ticket’ opportunity you won’t know what’s out there. That was my experience, and I think you have to have a try to believe in yourself. The earlier you get these opportunities the more confident you’ll be in gaining work experience. It is critical to have that one opportunity, it changes your whole outlook.
Tell us about your job – what company do you work, what is your role, and what does it involve?
I work for Altrad as a Digital Support Assistant. I assist with new accounts into the employment system. It is an account system for employees pay, and I assist with pay roll and resetting accounts if needs be. I also assist with the digital team in sending out devices to sites. The devices are like chunky phones for use on industrial work sites for health and safety inspections, among other things.
Does this match your personal interests and career goals?
Yes.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the regular hours and working in a formal office environment. I also enjoy engaging with other workers which I haven’t experienced before. My interpersonal skills have improved because of this. I also like the nature of company which is different to what I was expecting in terms of the support that has been given.
How did the employability team support you to get a job?
They assisted me by accepting me into the service, finding me a work placement and giving me the opportunity. They also helped me by being open to me, and helped me to be able to use my personal experiences and skills to get into a job. There was no pre-judgement.
When you first joined the employability service, did you ever imagine you would achieve paid work? Why?
When I first joined, I didn’t have that high expectations. I thought it would be a nice friendly service to use that was on top of whatever other services and support I was accessing. But I have been pleasantly surprised by what has happened in finding paid work, and what has occurred in the interim.
Has the support you’ve received from the employability team, and gaining paid employment, impacted your wellbeing? How?
Yes. I am much more assure of myself and my skills and abilities, and my personal outlook has improved. I have become much more organised and responsible in that time because of it.
Describe the impact of the support you received from the employability team – how did it help you get to where you are today?
The impact upon me from the employability team has been life changing. They have opened the door and showed me a path and helped me walk it, and that’s what autistic people really need. If we don’t have confidence within ourselves we are not able to believe in ourselves and therefore do it. The service has helped me believe in myself and given me confidence.
Would you recommend Daisy Chain and the employability service to other autistic/neurodivergent adults? Why?
Yes.
What advice would you give to other autistic/neurodivergent adults who may be struggling to find work?
It is more important for those in my particular situation to reach out to support groups and services even though they may or may not think that they are age appropriate or that there is an age limit. It is only by reaching out and giving Daisy Chain a chance that I knew they had an adult’s service and an employability service. I would say be encouraged to ask for help. It’s hard to admit that you might need support, but its only once you do that you can access it. Give yourself a chance.
*Name has been changed.
When you signed up for Daisy Chain’s employability service, what support were you looking for?
I was seeking employment and to improve my confidence.
At that time, what challenges were you facing as an autistic/neurodivergent adult when it came to looking for and achieving paid work?
I was incredibly anxious about interviews (to the point I’d abandon them whilst there). Additionally, I was very doubtful in my abilities as I had never made it past the interview stage and I would always withdraw myself from education as I couldn’t cope with how much it exacerbated my mental health. Due to this I came to the conclusion that I would never find meaningful employment.
When you first began accessing support from the employability team, how would you describe your self-confidence and wellbeing at that point?
Incredibly low. I could hardly speak to people I didn’t know, hardly left my home, etc
Were you optimistic about the future?
No, I was worried I was wasting my life and would always be struggling.
What support did you receive from the employability team, and how did it help?
The employability team assisted with finding my first job and I was accompanied by Kayley the first few times I went to Altrad. Additionally, the employment that was found for myself I was able to utilise my skillsets and even develop on my interests.
Why is it so important for autistic adults to have access to personalised support from people who understand autism?
It’s important as there’s a lot of stigmatisations towards autistic people regarding employment. I was often questioned if I was capable of the jobs after disclosing that I had autism and mental health issues. Daisy Chain went far beyond what I imagined with the employment they assisted me with securing.
Tell us about your job – what company do you work, what is your role, and what does it involve?
I work for Altrad Services UK, Ireland and Nordics. I am a Digital Support Assistant. My work involves setting up user accounts across multiple systems, setting up and dispatching devices, creating Power BI reports, general admin duties, completion of timesheets, amending Windows Nav/Business Central errors (correction of high value PO’s), Setting up users within IPlan.
Does this match your personal interests and career goals?
Yes, perfectly in fact it blew my expectations.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
It would be difficult to choose a specific task, but I love creating and maintaining Power BI reports. Also how it’s helped with my social anxiety, which is now near none existent.
How did the employability team support you to get a job?
Finding a job that was right for my skillsets. Accompanying me to interview and initial meetings. Inspired hope in fact.
When you first joined the employability service, did you ever imagine you would achieve paid work? Why?
No, I didn’t. I felt like I was stuck and that there I had exhausted all options with every attempt further lowering my confidence.
Has the support you’ve received from the employability team, and gaining paid employment, impacted your wellbeing? How?
Yes, it has. It’s improved drastically. Paid work has removed all my financial worries, additionally I’ve been able to assist the household which has taken a lot of worries of my family.
Describe the impact of the support you received from the employability team – how did it help you get to where you are today?
Improved my confidence drastically and allowed me to live much more, getting myself out the house. This has all contributed to myself having a much more positive outlook towards, but towards life as well.
Would you recommend Daisy Chain and the employability service to other autistic/neurodivergent adults? Why?
Without the tailored to my needs support I wouldn’t of had the confidence to progress.
What advice would you give to other autistic/neurodivergent adults who may be struggling to find work?
Contact support and assistance as the opportunities may change your life. I wish I had done that when I was younger and considered it but was doubtful it would result in anything. I’m glad I reconsidered.
The services provided are tailored to your needs and the support given is incredible.
Jasmine, a young autistic woman, describes her journey from an anxious employability service user to becoming a more optimistic and confident Daisy Chain employee.
When I first joined Daisy Chain’s employability service in 2019 I has just finished university. My whole purpose of going to university in the first place was to avoid the world of work – I just wasn’t ready for it yet. I joined the employability service because I was looking for work experience but without the pressure of a regular job.
In the past, whenever I was talking to people who were trying to help me with my CV they always told me to hide a certain aspect of my autism until after I had been employed. It felt like I couldn’t be honest, and I didn’t feel like that was fair to me or to them. Yes, I do have anxiety – and I felt like it would be helpful for employers to know that, but I was worried that if I told people in an interview then it would make people less likely to hire me.
At the point when I first joined the employability service my self-esteem and mental health was very low. I only had a small group of friends. I couldn’t go for any interviews because I would just have a breakdown. It was very intimidating. I didn’t know how to talk to anyone and I had pretty much no social skills. So, if it were someone that I didn’t know then I couldn’t really talk to them, which isn’t helpful when you are going for an interview! At this point in my life, I was not optimistic about the future. In fact, I think I was just dreading the future. I didn’t feel mature enough to get a job, I didn’t feel like an adult. I had just come out of the education system and within education you just get told what to do. Yes, in a paid job you also get told what to do but there is a lot more pressure because you are getting paid. I felt like I would never be good enough to work a job and do it to the standard that my boss would want me to do it.
When I first started with Daisy Chain, I thought that maybe I would be there a couple of weeks – I would get a bit of help with CV skills and then I would go back home and just worry about things more! But the team helped me a lot – they made me feel comfortable and I didn’t feel like I was under any pressure to perform. They worked with me on my CV skills, interview skills and the more I got to know them the easier it got. They helped me prepare for talking to strangers and they also helped me with my social skills and interpersonal skills. They introduced me to new people and supported me to do work experience in the Superstore. It was a whole bunch of little things that added up to a big thing and they really helped me to build my confidence.
I think it is so important to have specific support for autistic adults, from professionals who understand autism. It can be very intimidating in the workplace to hide certain aspects of your autism so if there is someone there who understands it you feel like you can be more yourself and you don’t feel as much pressure to pretend to be someone you are not.
And now, fast forward two years and Jasmine is employed by Daisy Chain as an Ecommerce Assistant.
I work in the Ecommerce team primarily doing Ebay listings. We get a lot of donations of goods that are higher price items and it is my job to list them which includes writing descriptions, pricing, taking the pictures and things like that. There are quite a few elements to the job but I would say it is pretty fun!
I never would have imagined two years ago that I was going to be able to get work. I just thought I was going to continue to wallow in a hole of self-pity because my anxiety was so bad at that time. I definitely think that the support and experience of the employability service has had a positive impact on my mental health. I have gained a lot of confidence since I have started coming to Daisy Chain. I have met new friends and co-workers as well. I feel that I have gained a lot of social skills and I don’t have as many issues as I did back in 2019. Back then I had a lot of dark thoughts which I thought I would never get over, but I have actually overcome a lot of challenges that I had when I first started coming to Daisy Chain. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for the employability team.
I definitely feel more optimistic about the future. This is my first proper job! I always thought that when I got a job it would be such a drag – going into work every morning and then waiting for the end of the day, over and over again for the next 40 years! But working here – this is something I actually find enjoyable and that makes me happy. It really helps to find a job that is related to my area of interests. I do like working here and I would like to continue working here in the future. But if I do end up moving on, I feel more confident about looking for and seeking other types of work.
I would recommend Daisy Chain’s employability service to other autistic adults. The team are very patient and if you are struggling, they will give you as much time as you need. Being a part of this service has helped me to grow as an adult and as an autistic person. I have learned to understand myself a lot more.
*Name has been changed.
When you signed up to Daisy Chain’s adult services, what support were you
looking for?
Really any assistance at all. I wasn’t sure what Daisy Chain would do but it was a
choice between you and some new department within the DWP and I assumed
Daisy Chain would be a lot better.
At that time, what challenges were you facing as an autistic adult when it
came to looking for and achieving paid work and accessing benefits?
I just couldn’t get any employer to take a second look at me, so I settled into a
routine of doing enough to get past the job centre for another week. As for benefits
all I really had for support was the DWP pushing to get me onto universal credit
while they were underpaying me.
When you first began accessing support, how would you describe your self-
confidence and mental health at that point?
I was in a middle ground at the time. I’d started to pick up some healthier habits
such as just generally eating less, as much due to said underpayments as it was
wanting to, but as time went I just took the ball and ran with it.
Were you optimistic about the future?
To be blunt, not particularly no.
What support did you receive from Wendy and the team, and how did it help?
Wendy and Kayley gave me something new to point at and aim for, particularly in
regards to looking at training for admin work or learning to code.
What support did you receive from Beccy? How did it help?
Beccy was able to fix the underpayment issue immediately. I was able to go from
socialising once every few weeks and counting every penny to comfortably being
able to see friends regularly without worrying if I was gonna skip a couple of
meals. There were times when I had £12 to last me a week and a half, and
obviously if I didn’t know I was being underpaid, the DWP were not going to
volunteer that information.
Why is it so important for autistic adults to have access to personalised
support from a professional who understands autism?
For the same reasons kids need it through school. People can empathise, sure, but as
much as I can’t particularly understand how a neurotypical mind is supposed to
work, you can’t really know 100% what an autistic mind is running through, you can
only learn about that individual and work with what you’re able to.
Tell us about the job you have just been offered.
I’ve joked about this with Wendy in email but essentially half of my job is to audit
a bunch of spreadsheets. Plus after my introduction to EDF as a customer, paying for their utilities with their own money is just a cherry on top.
Does this job match your personal interests and career goals?
Really prior to this I was just hoping to eventually be able to enter the workforce.
I didn’t have any particular interests or career goals, I mostly aimed at admin
cause it would be something that works for me with the time I’ve spent using my
computer for hobbies.
When you first joined the service, did you ever imagine you would achieve
paid work? Why?
Being honest, no. I think I’d just given up. For years I took every learning
opportunity given to me and I sent out a bunch of CVs every week, I don’t think I
got a response that didn’t immediately set off red flags in a solid 5+ years. Which
is to say by red flags, I mean commission only work, people wanting too much
info before anything happens, etc
Has the support you have received had a positive impact on your mental
health and self-esteem? How and why?
The immediate one would likely be Beccy freeing up so much money for me that I
could be more sociable again. In my own time I’d been learning languages and
walking 5k/day but with the support given by Beccy I was able to do much more than
just treading water, I could actually start moving forward again. With Wendy and
Kayley it was more work focused; I was able to actually start thinking something
might work out again.
Describe the impact of the support you received from Daisy Chain – how did
it help you to get to where you are today?
I think for a lot of people like me that have slipped through the cracks a little, just the
opportunity to get a foot in the door anywhere can be enough (and I suppose, has
been for me) and with a group like Daisy Chain to actually do that where most
employers would ignore a direct application, I’d say as much as any mental health
work is as much up to a patient as it is a doctor or peer support, it’s been a huge
boost.
Would you recommend Daisy Chain’s adult services to other autistic adults?
Why?
Yes, in fact I did try to get my eldest nephew to sign up but understandably it can be
difficult to get autistic people to agree to do something. If it helped me this much,
this fast, I’d have loved to see what he could do with a lot more youth to put him
through it.
What would be your message to other autistic adults who may be struggling
with their mental health or struggling to find work?
I had this discussion with another employee here to the point of mentioning that a
lot of people will always ask ‘’why don’t they just reach out?’’ but to a lot of people,
even with just regular mental health issues, even with all the awareness currently
out there – you just don’t always recognise you need to reach out. I know I believed for years that I was just lazy, useless, ‘wrong’, I wasn’t worth helping. Then I asked for it, and while I’ve had my setbacks, anyone with enough willpower could do what I did. It’s genuinely not that special, I’m not gonna sit and pat myself on the back too much.
But it all starts with knowing you need to ask. Which isn’t always easy. If you suspect
something, ask someone you trust what they think. Then ask other people you trust.
Build it up, trap your atypical mind into realising the support is necessary and
needed.
Describe how you feel now about the future, in relation to your career
journey. Do you feel more optimistic?
Yes. After rambling last time, I’ll just say yes.
Just 16% of people on the autistic spectrum are in full-time work, demonstrating the vital need to offer more opportunities to get a start on the career ladder.
Daisy Chain works with businesses and organisations to organise supported work placements to give young people on the autism spectrum more skills and experience of the workplace to help them gain employment.
Macks solicitors, part of Watson Woodhouse law firm is one company which stepped in to help and offered a placement to 21-year-old Rory Anderson to help him build up employment experience in a real workplace.
And Rory’s work with them has spoken for itself, for Watson Woodhouse has now offered him a contract giving him paid employment.
Martin Pout, marketing director of Watson Woodhouse, began to do some fundraising for Daisy Chain and discovered the employability programme.
Martin said: “Watson Woodhouse, as a company, started working with Daisy Chain on a number of projects and we found out about the scheme. It offers the opportunity to source quality students and with the support of the charity, we can offer quality opportunities in return.
“Our solicitors and staff work with many different vulnerable clients and we pride ourselves on having an in-depth understanding of conditions such as autism.”
Rory is a whizz when it comes to updating databases and he was delighted to have been able to demonstrate his abilities which have now landed him paid employment.
The placement in Middlesbrough was organised and supported by Daisy Chain through the employability scheme with regular visits to the placement site to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Martin said: “We were delighted to take our relationship with Daisy Chain a step further and Rory is a fantastic worker. His work on the database allows us to analyse business needs and inform our business planning.
“It couldn’t be easier to work with Daisy Chain and the support is second to none. We were able to work out what role we could offer and the skills needed to fulfil it then we were matched with the ideal student. We started off with a visit to make sure everyone was comfortable with the match. It’s a two-way process.”
Staff at the company have also undertaken autism awareness training with Daisy Chain. “It’s all been extremely useful in dismissing any myths around autism. Rory is a brilliant worker that we may not have discovered without the charity’s help and there must be lots of talent out there for businesses to tap into. I would recommend the scheme to anyone.”
Rory added: “I just wanted to be able to get work experience and prove what I can do. I am loving doing the work and I am really excited to now be given a contract for paid work.”
Hayley Matthews, education and employability manager at Daisy Chain, said: “We need companies and organisations to come forward and offer work experience placements to our students who are on the autism spectrum. Such valuable opportunities allow our service users to demonstrate their skills as well as building their confidence and helping them getting a foot on the employment ladder.
“Companies can offer this knowing they will receive training and ongoing support from the Daisy Chain employability team as well as reassurance that placements are carefully matched with businesses to ensure an appropriate fit. Such opportunities can be life changing as in the case of Rory and his newly achieved employment. We are absolutely delighted for Rory and so proud of what he has achieved.”
George works at Cummins Business Services in Darlington as an employee benefits administrator in the HR Shared Services Department, where he sorts invoices for various employee benefits, such as checking and approving cycle to work schemes and processing the invoices for payment.
George said: “With Cummins and Daisy Chain working together, as charity partners, as they have done for a number of years now support has been put in place to enable me to prove I am able to work comfortably and socially within the workplace environment.”
The 19-year-old added: “All I want is to feel accepted and to have a future career in a workplace that will accept me. I am intelligent and a hard worker and just want the opportunity to show what I can do. Cummins, with the help of Daisy Chain, has enabled me to do this.”
Tony Waters, manager of the team George works on, said: “As an organisation, it is very important to us that we are inclusive and offer opportunities to everyone. Being able to offer George a year-long work placement with us was something we were very passionate about, and are thankful for Daisy Chain’s help and support along the way.
“George is a valued member of our team and does a great job each day. George’s commitment to his role has also inspired us to explore other opportunities to offer employment to young adults on the spectrum and we couldn’t have done with without Daisy Chain’s knowledge and guidance.
“As a responsible employer, we wanted to create a level playing field in our organisation in which autism talent is given the platform to shine. These candidates have a great work ethic, are dedicated to their role, and have a wonderful variety of skills. We are thrilled with the service provided by Daisy Chain, and the commitment shown by George, and are looking forward to offering new opportunities when we can”