Regional SEN Transition To Employment Project Newsletter

March 2012In this issue

IntroductionConferences, Consultations and Events!

Building Relationships through the OutdoorsCarrie Needs from Swansea talks about her experience in Rhossili!

Getting Outdoors in PembrokeshireSticking with the outdoor theme we find out what Pembrokeshire have been up to.

Project SurveyInformation from the Research Team.

Training & EventsA list of upcoming projecttraining and events.

Welcome to the March edition of the Real Opportunities newsletter. A lot has been happening in the Real Opportunities camp not least the publication of our staff conference and annual conference! The annual conference is aimed at sharing how the project fits with current policy agenda, evaluation of project outcomes and the successes of the project with the wider professional community. For more information or to register interest contact the training and information team on 01792 817224 or at realopportunities@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk.

Also big news for March is the launch of a public consultation on the Social Services (Wales) Bill by Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services. The Bill is a major piece of legislation that sets out plans for changing and improving the delivery of social services in Wales. It covers adults and children and includes transition. The consultation runs until 1 June 2012 so make sure you have your say! Learning Disability Wales has written an Easy Read version of the Bill and there is also a children and young person’s version. For more information or to access these documents go to www.wales.gov (search for ‘Social Services (Wales) Bill’.)

March also sees the launch of a new website by Whizz-Kids called Kidz Unlimited. Kidz Unlimited is a friendly and fun website designed for disabled young people to make friends, develop confidence, find opportunities and learn new skills. Check it out: www.kidz-unlimited.org.uk.

There are also lots of useful events happening in April for young people, parents and carers. Mencap ‘Planning for the Future’ seminars provide advice on making suitable wills and trusts specifically for people with learning disabilites. Coming to Swansea, Cardiff and Llandudno Junction, visit the Mencap website www.mencap.org.uk for more information or to book a place.

The Vale Youth Speak Up and the Children and Young People’s Partnership are re-launching the Disability Index Event on 18th April. The day will include information stands, workshops, parents training and interactive games. Email liz.davidson@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk for more information. Enough from me but if you do have questions about anything mentioned here or in the newsletter please get in touch!

Laura Davies

Project Information Officer

Building Relationships Outdoors

By Carrie Needs

This is exactly what Carrie Needs, new Youth Inclusion and Peer Mentor worker in Swansea took advantage of during a class trip to Rhossili Outdoor Education Centre in February. Here is her personal account of the experience.

The students went to Rhossili for the week on a residential placement of outdoor education. In order to get to know the students and begin to form relationships with them, I went along for the day and joined in with their activities.

Contrary to their usual household responsibilities, they were able to wash up after themselves, cook their own food, and generally look after their quarters. For some of them, it was the first time they had spent one night away from home, let alone three.On the day I spent with them, in the morning we took part in map reading and orienteering and initiative exercises. These activities all involved team work, communication, problem-solving and leadership. As the students progressed through the tasks, their standards of communication grew as did their confidence in speaking their views and ideas. The activities were designed to become gradually more tasking as their skills improved; they took great satisfaction every time they achieved success.

After lunch the students then participated in some pot-holing, rock climbing and abseiling. This presented some with major obstacles to overcome as some participants were claustrophobic and had a phobia of heights, and that’s without the general day to day challenges faced by those with Autism and physical disabilities. One student in particular, Gareth Williams, faced his fear of heights by abseiling down a 50 foot rock face, unaided by any instructor, with verbal

The ‘Outdoors’ is widely considered as a powerful tool for personal and social development. Outdoor adventurous activities can help increase self-esteem, confidence and communication skills. Research has also found that outdoor adventure experiences can enhance interpersonal relationships, improve socialisation, reduce formality in relationships and develop more human relationships and awareness between young people and staff.

guidance given to him by two instructors. As a part of Gareth’s individual personality, he likes to have instruction by only one person at a time. This in itself posed a great challenge to him and one which he conquered with exceptional grace. It was an outstanding achievement for Gareth and one that shows what he could truly be capable of.

This experience really did hit home to me the importance of getting to know the young people before you try and work with them, especially in my role. I found the attitudes of the young people towards me after this trip, compared to before, to be totally different. They didn’t trust me or know me and were really quite shy around me beforehand, but now they are always chatting and joking with me!

They keep asking if I’m going with them when they’re out and about, and if and when I’m going to be in class with them. This is going to prove vitally important when I’m trying to get them participating in new things, and mixing with others. I had quite limited experience of special needs before I came onto the project, and this was an awesome experience in understanding what they’re capable of.

through the

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Getting Outdoors InPembrokeshireThe Pembrokeshire team have also been busy getting their young people out and about. Jane Richards, the team’s Duke of Edinburgh Officer, has been developing citizenship and community integration outdoors, and Independent Living Skills Worker Katy Wragg has been supporting one participant achieve his ambition!

Seven Duke of Edinburgh participants in Pembrokeshire have been learning about countryside management with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority as part of the Volunteering Section of their Silver Award.

The Dean of St. David’s Cathedral needed help with clearing brambles and young saplings which had been allowed to take over in recent years, and the Real Opportunities Duke of Edinburgh group were delighted to be asked to provide the necessary muscle! The National Park Ranger was in charge of the project and provided the necessary tools and safety instructions. The group worked hard in wintry conditions and have made a considerable contribution to the improvement of the area. The progress made in just one day was noticeable and all participants were proud of their efforts and pleased to be part of the improvement to the Cathedral, for both the local community and the many visitors to St. David’s.

The team’s Independent Living Skills worker Katy Wragg has also been helping one young participant get outdoors by walking to school!Jamie George had one wish above all else when he met with the Real Opportunities team, he wanted to be able to walk to school independently rather than have to use the school bus. After being matched with Katy, Jamie began the first step towards achieving his ambition.

Katy and Jamie embarked on a programme together designed to ensure that Jamie was aware of all the dangers and hazards that might occur en route to the school and how to address those effectively. The training began last summer and continued until early December. Katy supported Jamie walking from home one day a week, and gradually as Jamie grew in confidence and his skills improved the days were increased and Katy started meeting him halfway on his route.

Finally at the end of his training, Jamie would meet Katy at the school gate after his walk from home and it was agreed at his annual review in December that Jamie would be allowed to

come off the school bus and walk independently. He is a much happier young man, his journey time has been considerably reduced and he gets a bit of fresh air and healthy exercise on his way to and from school! Jamie was ecstatic “It’s great to be able to walk to school much better than the bus and much quicker”.

Training & EventsTo book onto any of the following training events or seminars contact the information and training team at realopportunities@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk for a booking form. For further information regarding the events listed please contact Hannah at Hannah.cox@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk.

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To get your story in the newsletter, or for more information contact Laura on 01792 817224 or at laura.davies@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk

The Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities is currently running a web survey as part of the evaluation of the Real Opportunities project. The research team would be very grateful if everyone working for the Real Opportunities project would complete the survey. The survey can be accessed at www.surveys.cardiff.ac.uk/profsurvey1.

The web survey consists of 31 main questions in 6 sections. It is estimated that it will take around 20 minutes to complete. You can save your responses as you complete a page, but you will be unable to come back to, or revise, any section that has been saved. You can come back to the survey any number of times before you finally submit.

Security and use of the data: the data you provide will be kept on a secure server for the duration of the project, and for a further 12 months, after which it will be destroyed. The survey will be anonymous. Full confidentiality details are contained on the first page of the survey.

If you require further information on this survey, or the wider study, please contact Axel Kaehne at:Email: kaehnea@cf.ac.ukTel: 02920 687212

Thank you for your help!

Project Survey

Project InductionDate: 28th March 2012Time: 10am – 1pmVenue: Orbit Business Centre, MerthyrFor: Everyone in Merthyr

Multi Media WorkshopDate: 29th March 2012Time: 11am – 3pmVenue: Forge Fach CRCFor: Project Staff

Introduction to PCPDate: 26th April 2012Time: 10am-4pmVenue: Bethlehem Life Centre, Cefn CribwrFor: Everyone in Merthyr, Bridgend & NPT

Employment & Opportunities NetworkDate: 27th April 2012Time: 10am - 1pmVenue: Forge Fach CRCFor: Project StaffInclusion NetworkDate: 15th May 2012Time: 10am – 1pmVenue: Forge Fach CRCFor: Project Staff

Staff ConferenceDate: 29th May 2012Time: 9:30am – 4:30pmVenue: Margam Orangery, Port Talbot

Annual ConferenceDates: 3rd July 2012Time: TBCVenue: Future Inns, CardiffFor: Wider Professional Community