People Unlimited is a nurse-led social enterprise transforming the way the world feels about mental health. Co-production is used to transform mental culture at work by supporting organisations to understand and amplify their existing skills, knowledge and confidence to create change from within. People Unlimited has worked with over 100 organisations and engaged with more than 20,000 people in co-production since 2018.
People Unlimited recognise the immense value and experience of young people who have found sustaining a job difficult due to their poor mental health. They form essential members of the Access Team to help to deliver the organisation's mandate.
Young people with lived experience of poor mental health are employed by People Unlimited and inducted into the workplace, providing them with a supportive environment in which they can develop and thrive. Throughout their time working at People Unlimited, these young people are supported by line managers to develop and progress utilising the essential skills of Listening and Speaking, Problem Solving and Creativity, Staying Positive and Aiming High, and Teamwork and Leadership. Opportunities for demonstrating the practical applications of these skills within the workplace are offered and encouraged which improves the young person's confidence and future employability.
Young people are guided through their employment with People Unlimited using the Skills Builder Universal Framework to build essential and transferable work skills within a supported environment. Using the Skills Builder Benchmark tool to self-assess throughout their time in work provides structure for development and quantifiable progression. The development of these essential skills assists them to progress, thrive and overcome difficulties that they have previously experienced in the workplace due to their mental health.