WHAT IS ABILITIES GROUP AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
The Abilities Group is a non-profit, incorporated society based in Glenfield, Auckland. They were established in 1959, and have been dedicated to enriching the lives of people with disabilities through meaningful work ever since. Today they have a workforce of 144 people, of which 120 are people with disabilities.
ABILITIES BUSINESS MODEL
For the last 60 years, Abilities has been providing meaningful employment for people with disabilities through packaging, bagging and assembly services under contract to large companies. More recently, they’ve also started providing waste and recycling solutions for both government and private organisations such as District Health Boards, and The Warehouse Group. They also run a waste drop off service for members of the public, and through these interactions educate the public about waste and recycling. Occasionally, Abilities will also host school and business visits to educate kids and businesses about waste management and recycling.
ABILITIES IMPACT MODEL
Abilities are addressing two distinct areas of concern.
People with disabilities face significant barriers to employment. Those with intellectual disabilities are particularly affected because they require more on the job training (often repeat training), support and supervision. Without the right environment, people with disabilities often struggle to remain in employment or have equal opportunities to succeed.
There are growing amounts of waste going to landfill. Most of this waste (88%) is corporate or building waste, including plastics, metal, timber, building materials and polystyrene. Waste, like plastics and polystyrene, often end up in our waterways or the ocean, breaking down into smaller particles ingested by fish and other marine animals.
Abilities motto is “Caring for Our People and Your Environment”, recognising the dual impact for people with disabilities and the planet.
EVIDENCE OF IMPACT
Meaningful jobs for people with disabilities enables more people to feel part of the community, have a sense of purpose, happier and live more enriched lives. Increased financial stability. Increased self-esteem and confidence. Increased skills and capabilities.
Continuity of employment. Abilities has many long-serving staff, some of more than 30 years.
Diversion of waste from landfill, 4,000 tonnes of recyclable material every year, reducing negative social and environmental impacts of landfills for current and future generations and also reducing the need for new landfill sites.
Recycling of materials from the waste stream reduces the need to extract virgin materials from the earth, and creates jobs downstream in the recycling and reuse industries.
Behaviour change for members of the public with more taking steps to minimise their waste.