Recommendation 2
The flexibility of the WFF model allows workers to tailor their support and services to the individual, considering their needs and the needs of their families. The WFF culture encourages this individualised approach and the funding arrangements allow it. This approach should be integrated into more employability programs across the UK.

Recommendation 3
Whilst conditionality and compulsion within the welfare system is increasing it is important for government policy makers to be aware that the voluntary nature of WFF encouraged individuals to engage with the programme. Individuals were more comfortable engaging with WFF because they knew they wouldn’t be coerced or ‘pushed’ into an inappropriate job and that they could set their own pace.

Recommendation 4
There is an urgent need to address issues confronting parents under the age of 19. The needs of this group are not being addressed in a holistic manner, the consequence of which is many young mothers falling into poverty because they feel unable to return to education, training or employment following the birth of their child. Central, devolved and local governments need to work together to improve the opportunities and outcomes of this group.

Recommendation 5
If education is to be a genuinely life-long opportunity then childcare funding for people with children undertaking education must be well-resourced and available to all. National and local government must work with educational institutions to reduce the complexity of funding support for childcare.

Recommendation 6
Both local and national policies designed to help people back into sustainable employment should have clear strategies to engage employers. These strategies should include information and awareness raising elements to ensure that employers can access the support and advice they need.

Recommendation 7
All public sector organisations should be accredited by the Two Ticks Scheme. Consideration should also be given to requiring public sector contractors to be registered under the Two Ticks Scheme. This could become a standard requirement in public sector procurement contracts.

Recommendation 8
Participants felt the education system does not adequately prepare disabled people for a career. It was felt that the education system as a whole should play a stronger role in increasing the options of young disabled people, and there should be a more explicit focus on career opportunities for all pupils.

Recommendation 9
A long-term view is required when helping hard-to-reach individuals back to the job market. Short-term targets are understandable in a privatised welfare market but may fail to lift someone out of poverty or may simply begin a cycle of short term employment followed by a return to welfare. The focus of employability services should be: firstly to find suitable jobs and rewarding careers for clients, and secondly to provide ongoing support to the individual to ensure the position is sustainable.

Recommendation 10
Low aspiration is a major barrier preventing disabled people from considering having a career. Aspiration of individual disabled people is an issue but there is also a need to address levels of aspiration amongst those who care and provide services for disabled people: parents, carers, teachers, health services and employers, as well as service providers such as Jobcentre Plus.

Recommendation 11
A good communication plan should be an integral part of any new initiative or policy, whether it is being delivered by local government, the voluntary sector or a private sector provider. However, when such developments are targeting disabled people, particular care must be given to communication and how it will reach its target audience.

Recommendation 12
Funding to support disabled people to undertake longer courses of study should form part of any government initiative designed to enable disabled people return to work.

Recommendation 13
The location of services should be carefully considered. In all three peer reviews there was a strong sense that services needed to be located near those that they are aimed at. Locally provided services or services based in existing community facilities allowed users to feel comfortable with the setting, improved accessibility (in all locations, but particularly important when the service is aimed at disabled people who struggle to use public transport) and improved responsiveness to the needs of the local community.

Recommendation 14
Awareness of strategy documents amongst relevant actors in the public, private and voluntary sectors should be a priority of those interested in improving public services. Consultation can be used to improve public awareness and encourage ‘shared ownership’ of strategies.

Recommendation 15
An inclusive strategy requires minority needs to be explicitly recognised. In Swansea this required that play activities and facilities for children with a range of abilities ought to be visible in the development of the strategy so that they can be – and seen to be – openly debated and included.

Recommendation 16
Consideration should be given to the creation of more dedicated ‘Two Tick’ Officers within Job Centre Plus. The posts could be within regional offices or alternatively centrally located with the objective of targeting head offices of larger employers across the UK.

Recommendation 17
A ‘sea change’ in attitude was required before disabled people could expect open access to the job market and to career development. Participants believe that Government remains responsible to lead that change.

Recommendation 18
In preparing for the next NAP Inclusion (post 2008) the UK Government should support the implementation of a number of Peer Reviews on key policies to combat poverty and social exclusion. These Peer Reviews should be seen as an additional tool to supplement more traditional forms of evidence gathering and evaluation. Crucially, these Peer Reviews must ensure the active engagement of people with experience of poverty from the outset.