Stepping Up

PEOPLE IN SUNDERLAND living with learning disabilities or autism are being supported into work as part of a City Council backed project.

The ‘Stepping Up’ employability skills programme funded by the East Area Committee, will help 40 people from their local community into work and training over the next twelve months.

An enterprise element will be based at the Box Youth Project​ in Hall Farm Road, and an employment element will be based at Blue Watch Youth Centre, Ryhope.

The programme is designed to help people living in the Doxford, Hendon, Millfield, Ryhope and St Michael’s wards overcome their personal challenges with learning difficulties and / or autism to improve their employability skills.

The project brings the local business and voluntary sector together with support from the City Council’s Connexions and Local Inclusions Teams to identify those who could most benefit from ‘Stepping Up’, and the local employers and training providers best placed to help them.

The employability skills programme includes individual guidance and support including;
– Improving English and Maths
– Confidence building with team building activities
– Improving employability skills with developing CV and interview techniques
– Work experience with taster sessions at different employers
– Developing  enterprise skills
– Progressing into further education, training or employment

Chair of the East Area Committee which has funded the project through their Strategic Initiative Budget, Councillor Ellen Ball, said: “Working with specialist education and employment providers, we can help people with learning difficulties overcome the personal  challenges they face to boost their personal development and improve their job prospects.

“The support of our voluntary sector partners will help us achieve that, as will the support of the business community with more than 20 local employers already part of our network to provide work experience, which will hopefully lead onto paid employment.”

“Improving people’s personal skills and then giving them the chance to demonstrate them in a work situation is a great way of improving their self-confidence. The ‘Stepping Up’ project will achieve that aim and prepare some of our most vulnerable people to make the most of their employment, enterprise and training opportunities.”

Applications are open for anyone who would like to join the Stepping Up programme, with several people already enrolled through the Box Youth Project (theboxyouthproject@gmail.com).
Amie (25) said: “I’m really looking forward to learning new things, working towards new goals and meeting new friends.

Andrew (20) added: “I think that the support on offer to me by the workers will be great. I have been with other providers previously but didn’t get as much one to one help or feeling as relaxed” while Thomas (21) said: “I think this is a good project because everyone is very friendly and will help me to get a job.”

Based at Blue Watch Youth Centre (bluewatch@bluewatchyouth.com) Employment Skills Co-ordinator, Denis Crompton said: “The support of local business is vital to the success of this project, and we are here to help any employer who would like to get involved with the practical advice and guidance they might need to provide a placement or work experience.

“ There is also the possibility of funding being available through projects like the Access to Work Scheme and partnership work we are doing with Shaw’s Trust, to meet any additional costs.”

Further information on Access to Work Scheme, can be found on https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview.