Advice, Information Jobs
Head of Practice
Business Disability Forum (BDF) is the leading business membership organisation in disability inclusion. We are trusted partners, working with business, Government and disabled people to improve the life experiences of disabled employees and consumers, by removing barriers to inclusion.
- We work with over 570 members employing over 20% of the UK workforce and an estimated 8 million people worldwide.
- We advise, support and encourage businesses (many of them global) to become more disability-smart.
- We influence policymakers by representing the voice of employers and disabled employees.
- We provide evidence-based thought leadership on how business affects the lives of disabled people.
- We help effect changes in business practices, products, services and policies that positively impact the life experiences of disabled people, and also benefit business.
The role
The Head of Practice leads on best practice and practice development across Business Disability Forum. This includes leading and overseeing the work of the Advice Service to support our members and Partners and acting as the primary referral point for complex queries, collating and sharing best practice from within our membership and the impact of BDF best practice advice. They will also lead the delivery of the BDF internal upskilling programme to ensure that all Member and Partner facing teams are at the forefront of best practice in delivering high quality advice and support.
They will also work closely with the Content Team to ensure that BDF’s resources reflect the latest best practice and with the Policy Team to ensure BDF’s advice and resources reflect the latest policy and research thinking and to maintain our position as thought leaders.
The requirement
- Experience of leading and managing experts on diversity and inclusion related situations and of motivating.
- A demonstrable track record of relationship building at a senior level leading to tangible results.
- Experience of providing consultancy, training and advice on disability related issues.
- Experience of presenting to senior management and the board.
- Experience of working in human resources, talent management, or organisation development to at least adviser level.
- High level of understanding and knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and recent disability related case law in the UK and Globally.
- Knowledge of disability best practice, topical issues within disability rights and policy and a commitment to continuous professional development.
For the full job description and person specification of this role and instructions on how to apply please visit our website below via the button below:
How to apply
Applications should be by CV and a supporting statement, of up to 400 words, detailing why you think you would be suitable for the role. If you require any adjustments to the application process please contact Barnaby Powell as set out below. Applications should be addressed to Barnaby Powell, HR & Office Manager, Business Disability Forum, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY. If you are submitting your application by email please do so to barnabyp @ businessdisabilityforum .org .uk
- Closing date for applications: Sunday, 12 May 2024.
- First interviews are planned for the week commencing 20 & 21 May 2024.
- Second interviews are likely to take place in the week commencing TBC.
Business Disability Forum is committed to ensuring that all its information, products and services are as accessible as possible to everyone.
If you wish to discuss anything in regards to accessibility or if you require alternative formats please contact Barnaby Powell by email at bthe address above or by telephone on 020-7403-3020.
For further information on Business Disability Forum please refer to our website via the buttton below.
Equal opportunities
We are committed to becoming disability-smart and an employer of choice irrespective of race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, or pregnancy and maternity. The ethical and business case of ensuring that our workforce is representative of wider society is at the heart of what we do. When we are recruiting, disabled candidates who meet all of the essential criteria will be offered an interview.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about supporting people to uphold their rights?
Disability Advice Service Lambeth (dasl) is Lambeth’s peer-led Disabled People’s Organisation.
We want to appoint a Professional Advocate who shares our ethos and values and is committed to supporting Lambeth residents achieve their legal rights.
dasl have provided an advocacy service for Lambeth Council for 12 years and since 2020 we have played a key role in the Lambeth Advocacy Hub, a single point of access for all statutory independent advocacy services for Lambeth residents aged 16 and over. We manage referrals and enquiries and provide independent Care Act advocacy and a range of non-statutory advocacy.
We provide a high quality service - we hold the Advocacy Quality Performance Mark. You will hold, or be working towards, a qualification such as the Certificate/Diploma in Independent Advocacy (Level 3), or be able to show the necessary skills and relevant experience in a formal or informal advocacy role.
dasl’s success comes from dedicated work of our skilled staff, many of whom are Disabled people. You will be valued for who you are in our supportive and friendly team.
We work flexibly between home and office. Our office in Brixton is accessible.
This is a rolling recruitment - applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed as soon as possible. We encourage you to apply as soon as you are able.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join us!
Contact is a national charity for families with disabled children. We provide information, advice and support, and bring families together so they can support each other. We campaign to improve their circumstances, and for their right to be included and equal in society.
Your role
You will be the parent or carer of a child or young person with Autism.
You will provide an advice, information and guidance service to predominantly Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) and East European families in the London Borough of Ealing who have been referred to the All Age Autism Hub for assessment.
You will respond to first enquiries and contribute to the Ealing All The Autism referral hub service development and workings of the Hub as an expert by experience.
You will support group sessions for the Autism Hub as well as any of the Ealing run projects as and when required. You will support the Hub clinical team and Contact Ealing colleagues with administrative support around group sessions and training for families and professionals.
You will assess families’ needs and plan actions with parents’ participation as per their needs. You will encourage parent carers’ empowerment and involvement in the project.
What we’re looking for
- Parent of autistic child or young person
- Experience of working with and supporting families who have disabled children.
- Good organisational and administrative skills
- Knowledge and experience of the issues and concerns that affect families who have disabled children e.g. leisure provision, education, respite care.
- Knowledge of issues relating to maximising income, tackling debt and budgeting, accessing financial support, tax credits and other financial issues.
- Good communication, time management and networking skills.
How to apply
Please return a completed application form along with an equal opportunities monitoring form (downloadable as part of the job pack) by the date stated below. CV’s will not be accepted.
Closing date: 1 May 2024
Interview date: 7 or 8 May 2024
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Scope is a disability equality charity in England and Wales. Together we are Disability Gamechangers. We work to a society where all disabled people enjoy equality and fairness. We campaign tirelessly for everyday equality for disabled people.
Come and join our Employment Services Team. Delivering our Support to Work Extra service, you will be passionate about supporting disabled people to find work.
Permanent - Full time, 35 hours per week
Location - Head office, Here East Press Centre, 14 East Bay Lane, London, E15 2GW with flexibility to work from head office and home (hybrid)
The role
In this role you will have a caseload of disabled customers who need your advice and guidance. You will empower them to move into work.
Your base will be at our London Office, but you will be working within our extended employment team who deliver to our customers across England and Wales.
Although office based, we offer a hybrid model of delivery so working from home for part of your week is available.
Travel to meet with our customers or stakeholders and events across your local area is part of this role.
For more information about the role’s responsibilities, and the skills and experience required please use the link to go to the Scope website.
About you
We are looking to recruit an experienced employment adviser to join our London team.
You will:
- Have experience of advising customers with their journey towards employment.
- Show that you are passionate about improving disabled people's lives through employment.
- Be dynamic, results-focused, and comfortable working to Job start targets.
- Have a proven track record of achieving outcomes online and in face-to-face meetings.
- Have the confidence to deliver sessions to our customers on either a one-to-one basis or within groups.
Please make sure you explain in your application, with examples, how you can meet these important skills.
We ask you to show an appreciation of Scope’s values and our ambition of everyday equality for disabled people.
Our values are being pioneering, courageous, connected, open and fair
By living our values and trusting each other, we give our colleagues freedom and space to be creative, push boundaries and change minds.
Disabled candidates
We are a disability equality charity. We encourage applications from disabled people and people with impairments, conditions, and access needs. We want to create a workforce that is a true reflection of the communities we serve.
Scope will interview all disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the post. This is part of our commitment as a Disability Confident Leader. Just let us know in your application that you are applying under the Offer an Interview Scheme. This was previously known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
Some applicants might need adjustments during the application process. If you require adjustments through your journey with us you can find out more about interview adjustments on the Scope website.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
At the heart of everything we do at Scope is Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
We want everyone to feel like they belong. We value each person as an individual. We will treat everyone with dignity and respect, and we want to recognise all parts of a person's identity.
We are a disability equality charity. So, we will build a culture that is accessible and inclusive first. We will aim for the same high standards in all our work. We will listen, learn and keep improving.
You can find out more about our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion on the Scope website.
Scope benefits
We believe hard work deserves reward and recognition. We offer a wide range of benefits including:
- 27 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Flexible, hybrid and remote working options
- Pay progression at 6 months and 2 years
- Company pension
- Excellent training and career development
- Strong colleague networks across disability, race and LGBTQ+
- Discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme and much more.
How to apply
If you want to become a Disability Gamechanger, we'd love to hear from you.
Click the apply button to create an account and complete your application form.
Please note applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may take place and an appointment be made before the closing date. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
Interviews will be held w/c 22 April
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We’re extremely proud of the support we offer to those living with inherited, progressive sight loss. Our services provide a safe place to find accurate information about inherited retinal conditions; to ask questions and share thoughts, feelings and anxieties with those who genuinely understand.
We are growing our information and support service and looking for two Helpline and Information Coordinators to join our team working 21 hrs per week.
You will be the first point of contact for our telephone helpline, actively listening to callers, assessing their needs and providing high quality information and signposting to Retina UK’s resources including our amazing team of lived experience volunteers who will provide emotional support and guidance as well as coping strategies. We believe that our community deserve the very best support and you will be the professional face of our telephone helpline.
Additionally, you will have responsiblity for the development of information materials and online resources, further enhancing the support we offer to our community. We are looking for someone with previous experience in a similar role with a charity or in an eye health and social care setting. If you want to ensure that people living with inherited, progressive sight loss have the best support experience when they really need it, we’d love to hear from you.
The closing date is Sunday, 28 April, interviews will be held on 7 and 8 May at our Buckingham office. We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
This role will be homebased, however regular attendance at our Buckingham office will be required. We offer a generous annual leave entitlement, company pension, a confidential employee assistance programme, eye testing, current statutory leave provisions (ie dependant care) and flexible working.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About us:
Action for M.E. is the only charity in the UK providing direct support including healthcare to children and adults with M.E.. We provide vital support services, campaign for change and invest in ground-breaking research to help put an end to the ignorance, injustice and neglect experienced by people with M.E.
Opportunity:
Having been paused to new referrals, Action for M.E.’s free, independent, Adults Advocacy service will soon be re-opening. It’s one of our range of free Support Services that work with adults, young people, and/or families living with M.E. We support colleagues across the team to take part in and share reflective practice, self-care, peer-support and training.
Our Adults Advocacy service offers non-statutory, single-issue, instructed advocacy for adults with a confirmed diagnosis of M.E. We encourage self-advocacy where possible, though many of our clients are too severely affected by M.E. to be able to take undertake this.
As an Adults Advocate, you will manage a caseload of clients, as well as inputting and contributing to the triage process along with your Advocacy colleagues. You will meet with clients by phone, email, Zoom and/or SMS; we can also facilitate communication by post if this is required. We are not able to offer home visits or face to face meetings.
What we can offer you:
We offer fully remote and flexible working with generous annual leave (30 days plus bank holidays, pro rata). The wellbeing of our staff is important to us, we offer a range of benefits to employees including (but not limited to) access to free counselling and voluntary wellbeing weekday sessions, examples of recent sessions include guided group meditations and a book club.
To view the full job description, download the job pack, and apply for this role, please visit our Recruitee site (please note that we only accept applications via Recruitee; any application sent directly to an Action for M.E. mailbox will not be considered).
Should you have any questions about the role, or require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to contact our recruitment team, details of how to do this are contained in the application pack, "how to apply" section.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Our work reaches into the heart of the communities of Oxfordshire, and we’re pleased to be expanding our Community Engagement work into the areas of Cherwell and West Oxfordshire. The key towns in these areas are Banbury, Bicester, Kidlington, Witney, Carterton and Chipping Norton, including surrounding villages. Your role will be to set up peer-to-peer support groups, information days, befriending partnerships, and to be a point of contact for our work in the north and west of the county. Our mission is to support visually impaired people to live independent and active lives and you’ll be playing a key part in this.
Job Title: Community Engagement Worker (North and West)
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £23,000 – £28,000 per year dependent on experience
Annual Leave: 25 days per year plus bank holidays (to increase after 3-years)
Contract Type: Permanent (6-month probationary period)
Reporting to: Community Engagement Lead
Start date: Summer 2024
Base: Office/home-based with frequent travel across Cherwell and West Oxfordshire.
Closing Date: Midday 29th April 2024
Interview Date: Wednesday 8th May 2024 (in person at Bradbury Lodge, Oxford)
Job Purpose:
To support visually impaired people to live independent and active lives by providing a range of activities and groups across the north and west of Oxfordshire.
Duties:
- Setting up and supporting peer-to-peer support groups
- Holding information days within local libraries, community centres and other key locations
- Setting up walking groups as part of our Green Walks Project
- Demonstrating and setting up daily living equipment and assistive technology with support from the tech team
- Assisting in the setup of befriending partnerships alongside the Volunteer Coordinator
- Connect, share, and learn with partners and other organisations
- Being a point of contact for MyVision within the North and West of Oxfordshire
Other duties:
- Provide talks and training as needed
- Support the Fundraising team with local events and initiatives
- Keep accurate records of interactions and activites
- Attend relevant meetings, training, workshops, and webinars
- Support the team with furthering the objectives and goals of the organisation
- Other reasonable duties set out by your line manager and Chief Executive
- There may, on occasion, be a need to work outside normal hours e.g., weekends and evenings
Breakdown of duties
This is a rough guide to your duties; flexibility will be required.
Tasks% of your timePeer Support Groups and Activities40%Info Days and Equipment Demos20%Befriending Support25%Other duties15%
Person Specification
NOTE: We expect candidates to evidence how they meet the criteria in their covering letter. This can be through work, volunteering, and your personal life.
Essential skills, experience, and knowledge:
- Experience of setting up community-based initiatives (for example: groups, clubs, activities etc)
- The ability to research, create and manage working relationships with local groups/organisations across Oxfordshire.
- Good IT skills
- Good communication skills in person, over the telephone and online
- The ability to travel around the county, whether with your own car, public transport or Access to Work support, please see below regarding Access to Work.
- Ideally located within or nearby Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, or Oxford city.
Desirable:
- Lived or learned experience of visual impairment
- Experience of working with visually impaired people
- Experience of providing community-based services for a disability charity
Personal Qualities
- The ability to work under own initiative
- Good communicator
- Creative thinker and problem solving
- A supportive team player
This role may suit someone with lived experience of sight loss, MyVision is a strong advocate of Lived Experience with over half of our employees having a visual impairment. The role would also suit someone who has strong communication skills and the ability to support, encourage and engage people. We also recognise many skills are transferrable and welcome applications from people with varying experiences and backgrounds.
Please evidence how you meet the person specifications in your covering letter.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About the role:
At a time of growth and of new opportunities for the Foundation, we want to make faster progress to realise our vision of funding, supporting, researching, and innovating, so all disabled people can make the journeys they choose.
Our Innovation Team, in place since 2020, aims to support the Foundation to reach more disabled people, and explores a wide range of current and future transport modes and technologies and how they could be made accessible. Flagship projects include grant funding the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat), setting up a new model of car club in rural areas, and an influencing initiative targeting Government and industry to ensure the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is inclusive. The Team has also commissioned a wide range of robust research, including on our flagship intervention, the Motability Scheme, and grant funded partners in the disability sector to do the same.
This is a brand new role based in our Innovation Team, working closely with Communications colleagues, to use our existing evidence base and that of our partners to develop robust policy positions. As a politically neutral organisation that does not currently have a policy function, we want our start to policy work to be rooted in structured research, drawing out themes across transport modes and disability types to tell a clear story about what changes would make the biggest difference to disabled people. We want to do so in a transparent way that prioritises sharing what we know and convening key stakeholders to bring them on a journey with us.
You will work with internal staff to proactively identify opportunities to influence emerging from our portfolio of innovation projects. You will lead on Motability Foundation’s responses to high-profile Government consultations, coordinating closely between the Innovation and Communications Teams. Where there is alignment and reputational benefit, you may engage external partners to amplify each other’s positions and share expertise. You will develop and implement a specific research programme geared towards supporting us to develop robust policy positions.
You will lean on the subject matter expertise of the Innovation and Communications Teams, but also develop your own knowledge where necessary.
About you:
Must haves:
- Experience commissioning robust qualitative and quantitative research.
- Experience using internal and external research findings and evidence to develop robust policy positions and respond to high-profile Government consultations.
- Understanding of decision-making processes in central and local government, at civil service and political levels.
- Ability to facilitate sensitive internal conversations to reach a point of consensus on policy positions.
- Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders in Government, industry, and other charities and foundations.
- Exceptional written and oral influencing skills, including the judicious use of data and evidence and the compelling presentation of the case for change.
- Highly IT literate with extensive experience of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
Nice to haves:
- Understanding of key disability and transport issues, such as the social model of disability, inclusive micro mobility, the transition to electric vehicles, or user-centered design.
Motability Foundation
At Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Foundation Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year.
We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.
Benefits
⭐️ WHAT MOTABILITY CAN OFFER YOU ⭐️
A career with Motability can offer you so much more than earning potential. We pride ourselves in offering some fantastic benefits and a culture to match, some of which includes;
Holiday – 26 Days + 8 Bank Holidays, increasing to 28 days after 5 years’ service
❤️ Health and Wellbeing – We offer private health care with BUPA alongside an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu vaccinations, enhanced sick pay and discounted corporate gym membership. We take your physical AND Mental Health seriously, with our dedicated mental health first aiders you will have support and understanding from your colleagues.
Family Friendly – We offer enhanced Parental Leave inclusive of Adoption Pay and we understand that families require flexibility, we provide time off for dependants, flexible working hours and the option to work from home. Life Assurance is 4 x your salary.
Diversity and Inclusion - We value everyone’s unique qualities and celebrate having a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels safe to be their authentic selves, no matter their age, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, neurodiversity or otherwise. This is embedded in to our values and we celebrate our differences and create awareness throughout the year.
Celebrating Success – We love to recognise people that go above and beyond with our Spotlight Award as well as having team celebrations and social events throughout the year.
☕️ Our culture - In the Motability office we “dress for our day”, it’s an incredibly welcoming and inclusive environment where we look to support your career, we offer a mini bus service from Harlow Town centre and station for those using public transport to reach us and there are plenty of free hot beverages for when you arrive.
Pension – Up to 15%, inclusive of a 10% non-contributory addition and Motability matching your contributions up to 5%
How to find out more?
To find out more regarding the vacancy and for the full job description, please contact our Talent Team.
Here at Motability Foundation, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity which means bringing your full self to work. We encourage and welcome all applications, regardless of age, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
We are a disability confident employer, so please do make us aware of any reasonable adjustments you might need throughout both the recruitment process and to work with us.
We are committed to offering to interview every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the job. Once you have applied please send us an email stating that you have a disclosed disability and we will offer you an interview.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Co-ordinator
Remote working in or near Somerset
£24,960 pa plus excellent benefits
35 hours per week
One year fixed-term contract initially
You will be joining us at an exciting time as we set up our new RNID Near You care home service in Somerset. As a Co-ordinator, you will focus and lead on developing and delivering our new care home service across the locality through sessions in care homes to residents, their visitors and staff, we will be offering:
- practical hearing aid support
- information on hearing loss and tinnitus
- hearing checks
You will be responsible for co-ordinating sessions across the region in care home settings and be able to recruit, train and manage a team of up to 30 volunteers to deliver the service across Somerset. You will have responsibility for the set up and running of these sessions and have good local knowledge of Somerset in order to seek new opportunities for delivery of our RNID Near you services.
We are looking to appoint a motivated person with a keen interest in supporting people with their hearing loss. While you will be home based, there will be regular travel to venues where we will provide drop-in clinics in community settings.
You want to make a difference in people’s lives and love to interact with various audiences, including volunteers, health & care professionals and service users. You have experience managing events, your own workload and are able to work evenings/weekends if required. You are able to physically assist clients with hearing aids sensitively, giving clear guidance and taking into account individual wishes and health needs.
You are ready to work for a home-working organisation and have good IT skills, particularly with Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Excel, Word.
We are RNID. Together we’ll make life more inclusive for deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus.
Our charity has been through a complete transformation, while building on the best of our past. We’ve returned to our former, much-loved name, become wholly remote working, and established a new strategy, focused on reaching the 12 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
We are creating a radically different culture which is externally focused, curious, evidence-based, deliberate, agile, and future orientated. Our values are at the heart of what we do.
We strive to be and continue to be connected to our communities, insightful and confident in what we do and who we are, curious in everything we do and passionate about our purpose.
We champion the value of difference and equality and celebrate our diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively encourage applications from eligible candidates from BAME backgrounds or who are deaf or hard of hearing. With almost 20% of our employees having a disability we proudly hold Disability Confident Leader status and guarantee an interview for disabled applicants meeting the minimum essential criteria.
Closing date: 26 April 2024.
Interviews: 29 and 30 April 2024.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We're looking for a passionate individual to provide advocacy to Disabled people living in Norfolk. The purpose of this role is to:
To provide comprehensive advocacy to people facing disabling barriers, with a non-judgemental approach to ensure that individuals can make informed decisions about their lives.
Work to empower people to make their own, informed decisions and support them to have their voices heard.
To offer issue-based advocacy to disabled people in the community in areas such as social care, mental health, housing and child protection.
Principal tasks:
● Providing information, advice and advocacy on a range of issues affecting people who face disabling barriers, currently including:
o Mental health care
o Support to access treatment and support services
o Personal budgets and direct payments
o Discrimination and employment issues
o Child protection proceedings
● Being an independent voice for clients.
● Working alongside clients to challenge institutions, organisations and bad practice where needed.
● Visiting clients either at home or in the community and working within Equal Lives’ lone working policies and procedures.
● Communicating with clients in the method that feels most comfortable and accessible for them. This could be via phone calls, emails, letters, video calls, face to face meetings or a combination of all of these.
● Building relationships in order to understand and effectively advocate for people who may not use words to communicate or may find it difficult to express themselves.
● Effectively managing a case list and maintaining comprehensive and up to date case management records using appropriate software and ensuring follow up requirements are carried out in a timely fashion
● Contributing to the provision of induction and training of other staff including volunteers within the service.
● Developing strong working relationships with relevant organisations and institutions to ensure that the needs of clients are met.
● Working as part of the advocacy team and developing a supportive team culture.
● Keeping up to date with relevant legislation, policies and practice relevant to the role.
Please ensure your cover letter details your suitability for the position, as required by the person's specification. We will use this to select interview candidates.
We're interviewing as applications come in, so early applications are encouraged.