Regional SEN Transition to Employment Project Newsletter

March 2013In this issueIntroductionReal Opportunities updates and Carers Rights workshop

Carmarthenshire Employment FayreAn overview of Camarthenshire’s Employment Fayre held in February.

Mencap Employer AwardsMencap are proud to introduce their first Employer Awards, awarded to local employers at Carmarthenshire’s Employment Fayre.

Fairtrade Fortnight in CaerphillyYoung people from Caerphilly learn about fairtrade.

Training & EventsA list of upcoming project training and events.

Welcome to the March edition of the Real Opportunities project newsletter. This month staff from the project took part in a Bereavement master class with Cruse Bereavement Care, to better prepare them to support young people and their families through times when they are suffering from the loss of a loved one. There will be more information about that master class in the April edition of our newsletter, which will be a special edition full of useful information for professionals to coincide with our annual staff conference taking place on Tuesday 16th April.In this edition you can find out more about Carmarthenshire’s fantastic employment fayre, including Mencap’s first ever employers awards and hear how Caerphilly young people marked Fairtrade fortnight 2013. Over the next few months we have lots of exciting events happening including our young person’s residential in Llangrannog and our annual conference, which will also be our concluding conference. For more information about the annual conference contact Hannah from the training and information team on 01639 635650 or at Hannah.cox@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk or you can keep up to date on our social media pages and website (www.realopportunities.org.uk, @Real_Opps or search for Real Opportunities on Facebook).Also, if you’re a carer, don’t miss out on the Carers Rights workshops organised by Carers Wales where you can find out more about your legal rights as a carer. The next one is being held on Monday 22nd April at the Carers Wales head office in Cardiff. For further information contact Pat McCarthy, Carer Participation Officer on 0786 653 9075. The workshop will run from 10:00am until 2:00pm, is free to attend and a light lunch is included.

Laura GriffithsProject Information Officer

Providing Real Opportunities for Young People in the Transition to

Adulthood

EmploymEnt FayrE CarmarthEnshirE

The Carmarthenshire Real Opportunities Hub Team held an Employment Fayre on Monday 25th February at Parc Y Scarlets, with the aim of promoting the skills and abilities of young people from the project to local employers.

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The event attracted over 200 visitors, including a mixture of organisations from the voluntary,

public and private sector, young people, support staff, employers and county council representatives.

It was hosted by Real Opportunities project participants Jack Cox and Shannon Livings, supported by staff from the hub team and opened by Bruce McClernon, Director for Social Care Services in Carmarthenshire.

Over the course of the day, attendees heard from a range of speakers who covered topics around supported employment and working with young people with a learning disability. Dr Stephen Beyer from the Welsh Centre of Learning Disabilities gave an academic overview of international research into the benefits of supported employment for young people and for employers, which included financial benefits, improvements in staff morale and team work and a better response from customers. This presentation is available to view on the Real Opportunities website in the Research and Evaluation sections in the parents and professionals sections.

Stuart Mackinnon, Service Manager at Mencap Cymru ,gave a thought-provoking presentation about the role of supported employment agencies, including some shocking statistics regarding how many people with a learning disability are in employment, and the barriers into employment. This presentation is also available on our website. In the afternoon, Hannah Cox, Training Officer for the Real Opportunities project delivered a presentation about project aims and Person Centred Planning (PCP), which is an integral part of all work carried out by the Real Opportunities project.

PCP tools are available free to download from our website.

Young people from Heol Goffa School delivered a presentation about their experiences of supported work placements, and commented on what a difference it had made for them, including giving them more confidence and raising their aspirations for the future. Young people from Queen Elizabeth High School highlighted the benefits of the travel training aspect of work preparation, especially in relation to promoting independence.

At lunch time, people went crazy for the delicious sweets that the Real Opportunities Cooking Team had diligently prepared for after lunch. There were lemon meringue tarts, sticky toffee pudding, cookies and red velvet cakes which were all absolutely delicious. This was followed by a heart-warming awards ceremony where young people were handed out their Open College Network Certificates. Claire Williams, Bronze Medallist in the London Paralympics for Discus, and Liz Allan, 2 times Gold and 1 time Silver Medalist in the 2013 winter Special Olympics for Downhill

Young people from the Real Opportunities project who received certificates, delivered presentations and hosted the Employment Fayre.

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Skiing, handed out no fewer than 107 certificates to 45 young people. These form part of the Life Skills Programme that the Real Opportunities Project has been delivering in schools, homes, colleges and in the community.

The conference ended with a real gem of a rugby match between the Llanelli Warriors past and present. It was nice to go outside after the whole day indoors and the atmosphere was amazing. A

Also at Carmarthenshire’s Employment Fayre at Parc Y Scarlets on 25th February Mencap recognised the efforts of local employers by introducing their first Employer Awards for all the employment partners who support the Real Opportunities projects, and provide participants with a chance to demonstrate their skills and abilities. The Real Opportunities project provides work experience and accredited training for young people aged 14-19, and operates across 9 local authority areas in Wales. The support of employers such as the National Trust is vital in providing young people with an insight into the various industries and potential career avenues that are open to young people on leaving school and college. Mencap are aware that in the current challenging socio-economic climate, it is often difficult for the business sector to free-up capacity to support such projects. In this respect we are even more grateful to local employers, for not only being committed partners but also key advocates for young people with a learning disability.

The award winners this year were chosen by our Job Coaches, Amy Maund and Tom Clark. In addition to National Trust Dinefwr, awards were also given to Claytons Animal Feeds and Co-op Felinfoel.

full report of this exciting match is available online through the Real Opportunities Facebook page.

What a great finish to a great day! People noticed that there was a very positive atmosphere in the room. Some parents and young people got up spontaneously to thank the Real Opportunities Team for the comprehensive and ongoing support they have received. Jack Cox stated that the conference had been the best day of his life.

“It was a pleasure for me, on behalf of Mencap and our support team, to be able to present the first Mencap awards to organisations such as the National Trust. All too often in society, people with disabilities are left on the margins. Through the support of mainstream employers, people with a learning disability are being afforded the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities, and contribute to a diverse workforce underpinned by a commitment to equal opportunities.”

Representatives from the National Trust Dinefwr, Claytons Animal Feeds and Co-op Felinfoel receiving their awards.

mEnCap EmploymEnt awards

Stuart Mackinnon, Service Manager with Mencap, said :

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To get your story in the newsletter, or for more information contact Laura on 01639 635650 or at laura.griffiths@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk

training & EvEntsTo book onto any of the following training events or seminars or for more information contact the information and training team at realopportunities@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk or on 01639 635650.

Fairtrade Fortnight ran from the 25th

February to 10th March 2013 and this year project participants from Caerphilly took the opportunity to learn about Fairtrade thanks to generous

support from Sainsbury’s in Pontllanfraith and The Co-operative Food Store on Mabon Road in Nelson.

Fairtrade’s focus is on helping farmers and workers improve the quality of their lives and take more control over their futures. The Fairtrade Foundation was set up to tackle poverty and injustice through trade and they have set up the Fairtrade Mark to label products that have met international Fairtrade standards.

Caerphilly young people took part in different activities to learn about Fairtrade . Young people developed their independent living and decision making skills with delicious Fairtrade products. After a team effort to make heaps of tasty

FairtradE Fortnight in CaErphilly

toast, participants chose from Fairtrade honey, Fairtrade strawberry jam, Fairtrade marmalade and Fairtrade peanut butter to top their toast.

In Sensory Sessions, participants have been exploring Fairtrade products. They have been enjoying relaxing hand massages using Fairtrade body butters and the aroma of beautiful Fairtrade flowers.

Healthy eating was a priority when making Fairtrade smoothies. Yummy Fairtrade fruit juices and fruits (banana, oranges, mango, blueberries and pineapple) were blended to make tasty treats.

The Fairtrade taste testing was choctastic. Participants enjoyed scoffing different flavoured Fairtrade chocolate, caramels, truffles and muesli bars. Yum Yum! One young person said:

“everyone should buy Fairtrade stuff – you help other people and it’s delicious!”

You can find out more about Fairtrade Fortnight 2013, and get involved by going to www.fairtrade.org.uk

Staff ConferenceDate: 16th April 2013Time: 9:00am – 4:30pmVenue: Margam Orangery, Port TalbotFor: All project staff

Planning for the Future NetworkDate: 19th April 2013Time: 10:00am – 1:00pmVenue: Forge Fach Community Resource CentreFor: PCP/Family Liaison and Independent Living Skills.

5 Day PCP Facilitator TrainingDate: 29th/30th April, 21st/22nd May, 8th August Time: 9:30am-4:30pmVenue: Forge Fach Community Resource CentreFor: Project Staff (2 per hub)

Children’s Rights & Responsibilities Master ClassDate: 2nd May 2013Time: 10:00am-1:00pmVenue: Forge Fach Community Resource CentreFor: Project Staff

Introduction to PCPDate: 3rd May 2013Time: 10:00am-4:00pmVenue: Central South Consortium For: Anyone in RCT/Caerphilly/Torfaen

Domestic Violence Master ClassDate: 13th May 2013Time: 9:30am-1:00pmVenue: Forge Fach Community Resource CentreFor: Project Staff