My name is Zoe Hilton-Webb and I am a disabled young person.
I have applied for over 250 jobs and attended over 150 interviews for posts in early years. I have attended two Work Choice programmes which are supposed to help get disabled people into work. These programmes didn't work for me and I have since learned that this is usual for people with disabilities. I am currently volunteering at a nursery and I have been doing this now for over three years. I am currently campaigning about the issues facing young disabled people when trying to get into employment as I feel that the government is not doing enough.
I have two level 4 qualifications in early years and I am in my fourth year of an Open University degree in early years’ education. I really enjoy working with young children and seeing them achieve something new every day. This is what I really want to do but I am finding it hard to keep going.
I have met with my local MP and London Assembly member. They are both very keen to be on-board to help and support my campaign. I have recently been on Channel 4 news for their ‘No Go Britain’ series. You can see the news item at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t58mtaWDzos.
About four months ago I applied for a job at a local primary school and attended an interview. I was offered the job and accepted it on the same day. Four days after I accepted the job, I phoned to enquire about my role in the job, only to be told by the headteacher that she was going to withdraw the offer. This is a breach of contract which is illegal!
I am currently fighting with the school to get them to acknowledge that they have done something wrong, but the school has been uncooperative, so I am now using a solicitor to help.
This is more than a personal fight. I want to show the school that this is not an acceptable way to treat anybody. I do not want the school to get away with it and I want to make sure they take responsibility for their behaviour and don’t treat anybody else this way.