BASE's history, aims and structure
BASE is a membership organisation for supported employment agencies and supported businesses in the UK. This site gives a wide range of information and services to our members and others interested in supported employment. BASE was formed in 2006 through the merger of the National Association of Supported Employment and Association for Supported Employment. Both associations had been active in the area of supported employment in the UK since the early 1990's. It was felt that a unified voice was essential to protect the interests of the industry and to develop best practice within it.
BASE represents nearly 200 agencies across the country and is committed both to supporting these and to encouraging new ones to develop. As an independent membership organisation, BASE is open to any agency delivering supported employment services in the UK. Affiliated membership is open to any individual or organisation who is interested but not directly delivering supported employment services.
BASE is concerned with establishing collective action on national issues that cannot be addressed by individual agencies and members alone. As a priority, the Association developed a nationally accepted definition of Supported Employment. This still offers a guideline to good practice, with its basic requirement that employment should mean integration into a regular work setting.
The Association has formal memoranda and articles and is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
BASE currently has a National Executive Committee to lead the Association's development work in areas of concern to the membership: service development; employer and trades union relations; welfare benefits; relations with Government Departments; European issues; fund-raising; marketing of Supported Employment; regional networking; and service standards. The NEC is elected by our seven regional networks.
BASE supports regional activity through these regional networks. The regions largely correspond to English regional government areas, Wales and Scotland. Each network meets quarterly and BASE makes funds available for regional activity and events.
Our purpose is...
to support, promote and develop the principles and provision of supported employment.
The Aims of the Association:
- To assist people with disabilities by encouraging the provision of support into employment.
- To endorse and promote quality standards in the delivery of Supported Employment.
- To nurture and encourage the setting up of new supported employment services.
- To promote the training of supported employment personnel throughout the UK.
- To provide a regular, detailed information, advisory and development service to association members.
- To liaise and negotiate with national and international government and non-government organisations to promote the aims of the Association.
The benefits of membership
- A lobby for sustainable policy and funding
- Being part of a strong and respected national voice
- A dedicated website with the latest news and developments
- Involvement in Government consultations
- Quarterly newsletter and regular email alerts
- Access to best practice and support
- Networking opportunities and access to our regional networks
- 20% off training delivered by BASE and a substantial discount at our annual conferences
- Free advertising of staff vacancies
To join BASE, please visit our membership page
