Support your SEND students to consider their futures
Young people with SEND may face barriers in education and this can continue, with many struggling to move into training and employment. Discover how local charity AMAZE can help young people with SEND to discover rewarding employment and work experience opportunities…
According to official figures, young people with SEND leave education with only a 5.9% chance of securing paid employment (BASE 2018/19 data). However, tailored careers advice and experience of the world of work can significantly improve their career outcomes.
If you’re supporting young people with SEND, why not head over to the website for AMAZE to discover their Amazing Futures programme?
Through the programme the charity that covers Brighton & Hove and East Sussex, provides peer support activity groups, daily living information, workshops and dedicated careers advice for young people aged 14-25 with SEND.
Each year the charity also offers 12 month paid internships which are open to bright, enthusiastic young people with SEND or to those whose personal experiences helps them understand the challenges young people with additional needs face. The position helps young people to develop:
· Teamwork skills
· Communication skills including the ability to speak in public
· Event planning and promotion skills
· Administrative and IT skills
In the role, young people also play a key role in mentoring other young people and developing and delivering training. If you know a young person who would be interested you can find out more about applying here. On the AMAZE website young people can also find out about volunteering as a Peer Supporter, a role that is not only rewarding, but that can help them develop key employability skills.
If you’re interested in finding out more about how AMAZE can support young people with additional needs to discover exciting futures, head over to the SLN site to find out how our SLN Community Fund supported an initiative between an AMAZE intern and GB MET students with additional needs.
The pioneering initiative saw the set-up of a dedicated new social group for young people with Autistic Spectrum Condition, the delivery of one-to-one careers support and the delivery of four ‘Working Towards Careers Workshops’ and four Creative Workshops – all co-ordinated by AMAZE’s intern. During the Careers Workshops young people with additional needs learnt job searching and interview skills and were introduced to their legal rights to support at work, while during the Creative Workshops they were introduced to career roles in the worlds of photography, video game design and stop motion animation.
As a result of the partnership 60% of the 35 young people who participated said their confidence in finding and maintaining employment had significantly increased.
Young people with SEND undoubtedly face greater barriers when considering their future employment, but they are not insurmountable and with co-ordinated, imaginative support, they can find roles that are truly rewarding. This Careers Week, let’s work together to make that happen.
To find out about your local SEND offer for young people visit your Local Authority website: