Want to find out more about which services and companies will be at the Preparing for Adulthood Conference this year?
Take a look at our list below (in alphabetical order). Our stall-holders can’t wait to meet parents, carers and young people on 26th September 2023.
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Achievement Training. https://achievementtraining.com/
Achievement Training are a post 16 full time education organisation. Their aim is to equip all learners with the skills, knowledge and resilience to contribute positively in key local economic areas. ATL are experienced in providing access to education for those with barriers to learning, whether these are long-standing or newly emerging, simple or complex. They state: “Many learners choose our services based on their perception of a supportive environment that they have been unable to find elsewhere and this has become a strong USP for the company.”
Careers South West. https://cswgroup.co.uk/
CSW are careers information, advice, guidance and transition management specialists for young people. They are commissioned by the local authority to support young people with SEND and their families with transitions.
Duchy College. https://duchy.ac.uk/
Post 16 Education Provider – offering a range of Land-based Vocational Courses across the campus and Independence, Skills and Employability courses within their Foundation Learning and Vocational Academy Department. The Duchy College SEND Careers Service offers individual and impartial advice across a young person’s whole college journey to support with planning next steps and future career pathways. The SEND Careers Service works holistically supporting young people and their parents/carers to navigate the range of opportunites available for education; employment; community engagement and living options.
Eat That Frog CIC. https://eatthatfrog.ac.uk/
Eat That Frog CIC are a Community Interest Company. They provide 1:1 specialist support for learners with Educational Health Care Plans (EHCP) who are 16 years and above. They work with learners to create bespoke education packages which can include vocational qualifications, Maths, English, pastoral topics, preparing for adulthood, work experience and life skills sessions.
Exim Dance Company. https://eximdance.org.uk/
Exim Dance Company, founded in 2011 mission is to improve people’s lives through dance. Their vision is to raise aspirations, celebrating and championing underrepresented and undervalued communities; through a person-centred approach, they seek to unite people using creativity to achieve life-changing positive outcomes. This is achieved through the delivery of 31 FREE wellbeing services in communities of low cultural engagement and economic deprivation, operating as an effective early intervention, reducing more Plymouth residents reaching crisis point. Their work supports the core value that anyone who wants to do something can do it.
Friends and Families. https://www.friendsandfamilies.org.uk/
Friends and Families support and empower families with children living with a disability. They do this by providing services and activities for the whole family so that everyone gets to live their best life.
Horizons. https://horizonsplymouth.org/
Horizons works with local young people (aged 8-19) and people with disabilities (up to age 25). They provide inclusive and accessible sailing opportunities for young people, and for adult volunteers. Horizons use sailing as a tool to learn practical skills through water based activities whilst also have fun, gaining confidence, problem solving skills, teamwork experience, and the awareness to keep themselves and others safe on the water. They deliver an after inclusive school sailing club, educational school trips, wheelchair accessible motorboating, training and qualifications for youth participants and adult volunteers, and a winter land-based youth club.
Improving Lives – Young Adult Carers. https://www.improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk/
Improving Lives provide support to young adult carers aged 18-25 with the aim of transitioning 16/17 year olds into the adult services too through an enhanced transition.
InFocus. https://infocus-charity.org.uk/
InFocus is a charity supporting young people with visual impairments – and often a broad range of other complex needs. On their site in Exeter, is their College, offering bespoke further education courses for 16-25 year olds. They are able to provide residential and day placements to young people who may have left the structure of school but are looking for the next step into adulthood. Their courses are designed around the unique needs of each student. All pathways ensure young people are helped to communicate better, improve advocacy, explore their potential and reach the greatest possible level of independence.
Kooth. https://www.kooth.com/
Kooth Plc provides an online mental health platform for young people at www.kooth.com and adults at www.qwell.io. Kooth is commissioned in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay for 11-19 year olds and Qwell is commissioned for everyone aged 18+. Kooth and Qwell are anonymous, free and safe websites where people can sign up, and log in, to access professional support, self directed support and community support.
LDAP (Learning Disability and Autism Programme). https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/plymouth-autism-spectrum-service
LDAP (Learning Disability and Autism Programme) remit is to support young people with a diagnosed Learning Disability or Autism who are at risk of Tier 4 mental health admission or placement breakdown. They state: “We do not act as care co-ordinators or professional leads, or provide any direct therapeutic support, but work alongside other agencies to ensure that young people are getting the right support in the right way and at the right time. We currently work with young people up until 18, but are recruiting and expanding to support SEND young people up until age 25.”
NSPCC. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/our-services/together-for-childhood/
The NSPCC is a charity, where they are currently working on their 10 year project, Together for Childhood. Their aim is to prevent child sexual abuse with the help all our agencies and the community.
Community Connections. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/community-youth
The event was attended by a lead for the youth SEND innovation project. This group offers young people with EHCPs the opportunity to explore the different possibilities into work through taster days and residentials.
PIAS. https://www.plymouthias.org.uk/
PIAS is the SENDIAS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information and Advice and Support) for Plymouth providing impartial information advice and support to children/young people and their families with SEND. They also facilitate Youth Ascends.
Plymouth City Council Youth Service – No Limits. https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/no-limits-youth-club
No Limits is Youth Club is open for Young People aged 11-24 who identify as having an additional need. They also run the Autism group 4 me and my Friends.
Plymouth Mayflower Specials. https://www.mayflowerspecials.org/
Providing year round sport with meaningful competition for people with intellectual disabilities.
Prince’s Trust. https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
The Prince’s Trust supports 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training. The charity has helped over 1 Million young people since 1976 and supports over 100 more each day.
Routeways. http://www.routeways.org.uk/
Routeways offers a diverse range of social and leisure activities for young people with additional needs, as well as providing funded short break packages. They have two centres based in Devonport and Plymstock and have extensive knowledge of the activity offering across the city. They can help families to find appropriate provisions for their young people that meet their individual needs and offer stimulating and engaging activities.
Sensory Solutions. https://www.improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk/our-services/sensory-solutions
Sensory Solutions provides information, advice and equipment for people of all ages with concerns about sight or hearing. Family members, carers, friends, professionals and employers are welcome to use this confidential and impartial service provided by trained advisors.
Shared Lives South West. https://www.sharedlivessw.org.uk/
Shared Lives South West are an award winning charity that delivers long term and short break care services throughout Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. They provide care and support and are an alternative to supported living and residential care. Established in 2004, they are a highly regarded care provider, rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. They specialise in supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, mental ill health, dementia and older people. Their Funding and Benefits team check that people who use our services are receiving the correct benefits and offer a money management service. They state: “We are passionate about training and investing in our team to ensure we deliver high quality services.”
Skills Development at City College Plymouth. https://www.cityplym.ac.uk/
Skills Development is for school leaving students with Special Education Needs/Disabilities as documented in their EHCP. Their courses offer a variety of subjects working up to Entry level 3. They offer an Employability qualification. As well as continuing with English and Maths, they teach Independent Living Skills, Personal Development and Vocational Sessions where students can use the college facilities, with support from staff, in areas such as catering, automotive, media, construction, hairdressing, engineering and horticulture. They show young people the different options that they may choose to move into after Skills Development. All students are offered, when they are ready, a work placement and learn work skills to prepare them to move onto another course or employment. For older students aged 19+ they have a part time course over 2 days. They would also complete the Employability qualification. Their supported internship programme, Project SEARCH Derriford offers 18-24 year olds with a diagnosed Learning Disability and a Plymouth Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) the chance to work for one year within Derriford Hospital. Interns will also complete a City & Guilds Level 1 Diploma in Employability Skills, and develop their Functional English and Maths skills.
Skills Launchpad. https://www.skillslaunchpadplym.co.uk/
Skills Launchpad Plymouth supports those who are seeking work, facing redundancy or changing careers through the Adult Hub for those aged 25 years+, and offering targeted support for young people aged 16-24 years including those with additional needs through the Youth Hub. The intention of the ‘Skills Journey’ through the Launchpad is to put the individual at the heart – recognising that not one size fits all and that anyone in Plymouth can access this free help. The service offers an ethical and inclusive front door, designed to help residents make independent and informed skills and training choices, leading to better access to real employment opportunities.
The Dove Project. https://www.thedoveproject.co.uk/
The Dove Project offers personalised care and support packages through out Devon, Plymouth and Cornwall Supported living, community enabling, inclusion and training, residential care, short breaks, transition and respite.
The Pluss Organisation. https://pluss.org.uk/devon/
Training and Employment Support Service for people with Learning Disabilities and Autism. The training units provide work skills training in a practical setting – these include light package assembly, craft, confidential shredding, woodwork and gardening. The Employment Team support customers with their pathway to gain experience into work to eventually sustain paid work.
