The white paper “Training and Education in the 21st Century ” makes work experience a statutory right for school children. However WISE through its work as a supported employment agency for people with a learning disability was finding that many pupils with special needs were not getting the same opportunities as their peers.
Having placed hundreds of people with a learning disability into paid employment WISE realises that early intervention can be critical in developing vocational awareness and skills as well as raising awareness of an individuals potential.

Funding
In May 1997 WISE secured funding through Children In Need and Social Services to run a one year pilot project to work with young people with a learning disability who were in their last year of school. Due to the success of the project the funding has been maintained through National Lottery and other donors year on year.

Service
The project employs two staff who link with schools in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to provide one to one vocational awareness and support to pupils with a learning disability on work experiences which have been canvassed locally within the business community. The staff are based at WISE and have access to the wide range of experience and knowledge available from a long established supported employment agency.

Aims
The project aims to provide young people with a learning disability the opportunity to access work experience placements with the support of a job trainer. Work skill sessions which include health & safety and work related social skills assist in developing the pupils’ understanding of the world of work.

Email Christine Evans or Cheryl Stansfield, at the Schools Work project.