Access to Work for the Self-Employed
Access to Work for the Self-Employed
For Access to Work purposes, self-employment means:
- operating a business either on your own or in partnership
- working for an employer on a self-employed basis
- operating a franchised business on a self-employed basis
- possessing a Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number
If you are a company director, you can apply to get Access to Work support. However, you must prove that your company is registered with Companies House in Cardiff.
To apply for Access to Work support for self employment you will need to have one of the following:
(1) Accounts for an established business
or
(2) A business plan (of a standard acceptable to a bank or other financial institution) - NeurodiverseLIFE can arrange for you to receive a FREE business support plan package with Neuro-Sparks Business Solutions should you require help.
Access to Work cannot pay for the costs of setting up a business or cover costs while the business is being formed, they can only support once the business is set up and registered. Self employed support can include, but is not limited to:
- items of equipment
- disability computer software
- support for fact-finding
- attending courses, seminars or similar events
- disability impact training
- Neurodiversity or mental health coaching
- accountability coaching
- virtual assistant services
What you will get
There is no set amount for an Access to Work grant. How much you get depends on your specific case. The grant will only cover the support needed to let you stay in work or self-employed.
The money can pay for things like:
- changes to the equipment you use
- special equipment
- fares to work if you cannot use public transport
- a support worker or job coach to help you in your workplace
- a support service if you have a mental health condition and you are absent from work or finding it difficult to work
- disability awareness training for your colleagues
- someone to help you at a job interview
- the cost of moving your equipment if you change location or
- disability impact training
- Neurodiversity coaching
- Virtual Assistant Services
- Accountability coaching
What happens when I start?
Upon starting with us at NeurodiverseLIFE, your first session will be an introduction with either Chantelle, Pam or Jamian who will give you a huge warm welcome. This includes putting any anxieties to rest, answering all your questions, assessing your needs and creating your very own unique client coaching care plan (CCC). This document sets out a bit about who you are, where you are in life, the key difficulties you are experiencing and the priority areas you would like to address first. For example, you may have a particular urgent issue that needs firefighting before you start – this would then receive priority support. Following the CCC, we create a Pathways Document which will set out your first few sessions, what they are and who they are with. This is created with you in the driving seat of what you wish to address first and in what order, guided by us to provide best outcomes.
You will often hear us say that neurodiversity is like maths – in the manner that maths is full of many different topics that make up the whole subject. By this we mean you can't just get better at maths by repeating the same lessons and patterns, you must work on the many different areas within it, such as angles, shapes, fractions, algebra etc to become a proficient mathematician. Similarly, one does not get better at being neurodiverse by living through the same struggles and issues without support and education in the huge number of areas within it. Our team of professional coaches are experts within various fields of ADHD and other neurodiversities. You will hear about the huge variety of sessions, support, educational talks and personal development workshops available from all our coaches and can “pick n mix” your support, your way. We are equipped and enthusiastic about delivering a step by step, fully guided and supported outcome to a better life.