Building a sourcing website during a global pandemic! There has to be easier thigs right?! I can tell you categorically you are correct! Here at Eric HQ we had a nugget of inspiration, long before Covid- 19 was ever a thing; wouldn’t it be amazing if people had a simple way of looking for things to do and places to go? Wouldn’t it be amazing it that searching tool was fully inclusive? Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone in a wheelchair, felt as catered for and understood as anyone else? Wouldn’t it be amazing if an autistic person who found it stressful to be somewhere, felt they were understood and supported. That is after all what this world needs; more understanding.
Why have charities on there? Well, charities support people in many ways and sometimes folk don’t know where to start that search, it can be confusing out there. I have spent the last 18 years of my professional life assisting people find what support is out there; foodbanks, emergency funds, powered wheelchair sport, children’s charities for muscular dystrophy, learning disabilities, family services, wheelchair accessible cruises, adapting a bike for one handed use. You name it, I have helped find it! On some occasions I would find a whole working day had been spent trying to get hold of the right people, and agencies for my client’s needs. It left me thinking ‘if wasn’t here, what would they do? How would they manage this process?’ Many of my clients have asked me the same thing; ‘what would we have done’?
It’s nice to be needed, and if I am being brutally honest about my working life, I have always sought roles where I would feel needed. I think a lot of us do. But my need to be needed, also left me with unanswered questions about what it is like for someone with specific needs. Those questions don’t always fill me with hope and optimism, they fill me with a need to start some change.
From my realisation that accessing what people need can be hard to navigate, we decided to factor this into Eric’s database. I mean he is inclusive so why on earth not?? After all there is a lot of information out there. This can make searching for things hard. So, we thought a searching website to start to make that process a little easier would only be a good thing.
What is also incredible about listing charities on the website is that people looking for work experience or to carry out voluntary work can search for places which may suit their needs and areas of interest more easily. Check out the key word search tab, if you type a word into there and it is featured in any of the listings, those results will appear. Meaning we just made searching a little easier. We are aiming that Eric Knows will be a resource for schools, colleges and centres that provide return to work support. So, we can help people access volunteering opportunities relevant to their career progression.
We’re genuinely excited about what Eric offers people. We feel he could be a real game changer. But it’s about time, the game did need changing!
#nooneleftbehind #charities #inclusive #disability awareness
1 Comment
Hi Ella,
I spoke to you via linked in. i have not got a webpage yet. we are a new community group. With very little money and we all volunteer. We are based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. I like my little group it is growing despite covid and online.
We are called sh-OUT North East. For gay and bisexual men. we already worked joined up with a few groups and it is my goal to work with more. I have had three new volunteers so i am blessed. Ella these are difficult times as an artist. I am creative and try to apply this to my line of work and business.
Kind Regards
Carol D Robinson