UK Profile Dr Stephen FRY

What is the UK England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland – also called Ulster Each Kingdom is divided into: Counties Districts Cities Towns Villages / Parishes UK National Parliament Scottish Parliament Welsh Assembly Northern Ireland Assembly (suspended) English Regional Assemblies (proposed) Scottish RDA (1) Welsh RDA (1) NI RDA (1) English RDAs (5) 33% of all UK GDP is generated in one English region – The South East

Core Data The UK is home to 59.6 million people – mid 2003 The UK population increased by 6.5 per cent in the last thirty years 17% of people (1 in 6) aged 65 or over Average age 38.4 years (increase on 1971 34.1 years) UK has an ageing population

Hearing and Age 1979-2002 increase in the proportion of adults with hearing difficulties - 13% to 16%. The percentage of people reporting that they wore a hearing aid doubled from 2% in 1979 to 4% in 2002. Hearing difficulties vary between genders with age – older males more prone to deafness

Visually and Aurally Impaired - England At 31 March 2003 157,000 people were registered blind (decrease of 1,100 March 2000) At 31 March 2003 155,000 people were registered partially sighted (an increase of 6,500 since March 2000) 25% of all registered blind people who had an additional disability were recorded as deaf or with a hearing impairment 23% of all registered partially sighted people who had an additional disability were deaf or had a hearing impairment.

Labour Market Employment rate for people of working age was 74.8% for three months ending Nov 2004 The unemployment rate was 4.7%, unchanged on the previous quarter, although the trend continues to fall. The number of unemployed people increased by 13,000, to reach 1.40 million. The inactivity rate for people of working age was 21.4%

Employment Opportunity for Target Group Both Aurally and Visually impaired have figures hidden within UK statistics. Unclear if they unemployed – those unemployed appear within the 21.4% of non-active labour market. They would claim a range of benefits that are not counted within the unemployed statistic Disability/Mobility/Incapacity Employment opportunity is protected under legislations – EO and DDA Unemployment benefits stop at 60/65 years old (soon raising to 70) – retirement pensions and other types of benefit kick in UK Government is attempting to reduce the levels of recipients of incapacity benefits and push into work Large number of distributive sector employers offering flexible hours opportunity for “grey hairs of experience” Service sector and self employed also have high levels of +60s

Education - England Formal learning Commences @ 5 years Key Stages 1-4 achieved through assessment Formal assessment @ 16 years – end of formal education with GCSEs FE and HE systems vocational and academic through to university 18+ with AS & A level, AVCE, degrees etc. Support for learners with special needs – “Statementing” – educational psych - 5-19yrs Some supplemental support for learners 19+

FE – adult education Supplemental learning for people with disabilities – full funding through Local Learning and Skills Councils People on means tested benefits or who are on work seeking benefit receive free FE People in work or not in receipt of such benefits pay approximately 20% of the total learning cost All literacy and numeracy key skills learning is free Primary route for people with aural and visual impairments – depending on severity – is through e-learning or mixed media learning No proscriptive routes – learning is an inclusive activity regardless of age or ability

Learning Provision for Target Group Aural Impairment Part funded No specific funding provision Visual text based e-learning (mostly in English) Visual Impairment ICT adjustment through e-learning to support partially sighted Seniors (over 60) Recent removal of additional subsidies supporting AE for elderly access (silver surfing) Funding provision the same as catch all provision under LSC guidelines. Some separate FE provision (local and scattered) for chalk and talk opportunity Growth in private sector enterprise “U3A” Target groups can be supported through ability net Target groups can be supported through current ESF Key Actions

UK Legislations Equal Opportunities Health & Safety at work Gender Race Sexuality (Dis)Ability Age?? Health & Safety at work (Dis)Ability and Age may affect liability and safety Disability Discrimination Act Untried and untested use of the term Reasonable

UK Needs Analysis Access to learning Access to upskilling for work – competence based Access learning support software Access through DDA Pre-comparator to H&S requirements Removal of Incapacity Benefit as route to not working Fiscal support to employers Access to target support groups Continued removal of barriers to learning and work

Fry-Samuels & Associates (Lymington) Ltd FIN Fry-Samuels & Associates (Lymington) Ltd