Bristol Equality Centre up for Award
A pioneering centre for disabled workers in Bristol has been shortlisted for a government award.
The Vassall Centre, in Gill Avenue, Fishponds, is a former wartime hospital in the middle of a £5.5 million conversion as barrier-free workspace for disabled people.
This has put it in the running for a Creating the Future Award.
The scheme, run by government agency the Academy for Sustainable Communities, recognises "outstanding achievement in the delivery of sustainable communities".
Of 150 projects entered for the award across the country, the Vassall Centre - which is also a contender for the Evening Post Business Awards - is in the last 31.
Manager Ben Stokes said: "We're thrilled. It's a great opportunity for us to get more recognition."
A total of 400 people are employed by disability organisations that use the centre.
These range from cleaning to recruitment services.
Around 150 workers are disabled.
A spokesman said: "More than 30 per cent of the workers here are disabled people.
"This is more than six times higher than the national average. Nowhere else do people with such a range of impairments work together.
"When our building is fully transformed and occupied, there will be space for 800 people to work here and space for over 25 voluntary organisations."
Apart from letting office space, a large part of the centre's income comes from providing conference facilities, used by 20,000 people - many of them representatives of local councils - each year.
The centre aims to provide new opportunities and genuine equality for disabled people at work.
The centre has been entered into the Vision for Place category of the government awards.
The winners will be announced on June 5 at a dinner at the Roundhouse, in Camden, London.
The Vassall Centre Trust has also entered the charity category in the Evening Post awards, which will be announced on May 15 at a gala ceremony.
Source: Bristol Evening Post 17/04/08