EMPLOYMENT
One of the main decisions/choices young people have to make when they leave school is what type of career/job they would like to pursue.
It is a sad fact that for many young adults with additional support needs, this is often not even a consideration, much less a choice. The Fairway Project strives to change this.
As a parent or carer, you can help too. When considering the types of experiences your young adult would like to sample, first suggest areas he or she likes or where they have shown some interest or talent. Do not limit this only to subject areas from school. It may be that your young adult has a special interest in a sport, gardening or animal care or has a talent for singing, or has great organisational skills. Combine talents with interests!
Fairway recognises the dreams and aspirations of young adults. We see it as our job to take forward these aspirations in some fixture, form, or fashion and try to mould an opportunity to meet the young adult’s needs and abilities. Our aim is to develop the skills necessary to allow the young adult to experience a working environment.
The Fairway Project Facilitators will work with your young adult and get to know their likes and dislikes, wishes and dreams. By doing this, Facilitators often discover what skills and talents your young adult may already have and begin to build upon these. Facilitators will also help your young adult to find out what type of work suits them best. Once this is achieved it is the job of a Facilitator to explore and research opportunities in your young adult’s community and match their abilities and interests with a placement of their choice.
If your young adult is lacking in self-esteem or confidence, a Fairway Facilitator will work with them to help improve and develop in these areas. If they require further support, your Facilitator can refer your young adult to a Personal Development Course, which will assist them in developing ways of moving forward.
If your young adult has difficulties with reading, writing, and counting, your Facilitator can refer them to a literacy support provider like the Learning Shop in South Ayrshire, and accompany them for one-to-one tuition support.
If your young adult would like to try a work placement, then the Facilitator will support your young adult to look at various options and decide on a suitable place of work. The Facilitator will introduce them to the employer and the placement and it is then up to your young adult to decide if they would like to go ahead with the placement.
The Fairway Facilitator will accompany your young adult to the placement each time they go. The Facilitator will stay with them, supporting them in their placement that is normally around 4 hours per week. These hours may be increased once your young adults’ confidence and stamina has grown. After a time when your young adult feels confident, they work independently, or perhaps move into permanent employment.
Work placements allow young adults to experience different types of work, helping them to find out what they enjoy and what suits them best. The young adults will also be able to get references from their work placements that will help them when they apply for the job of their choice.
Fairway Facilitators will assist your young adult to build the confidence and self-esteem required to move forward with their life and help reach their potential.
The next step from here would be to access one of Hansel's supported employment programmes - WORKSTEP or WORK Preparation. These are Jobcentre Plus programmes available to people with additional support needs to help them into jobs. Hansel have been running these programmes in the west of Scotland for several years and have a wealth of experience helping people find and keep work.
For further information on Hansel Foundation’s employment programmes please click on the links below.
WORKSTEP Programme
WORK Preparation Programme
Other Useful Links and contacts
Learning Shop in South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire
The Learning Shop 0800 389 8320
North Ayrshire
Live and Learn 0800 180 4134
East Ayrshire
Essential Skills Project 0800 032 1454
