Providing Real Opportunities for Young People in the Transition to

Adulthood

Regional SEN Transition to Employment Project Newsletter

September 2012In this issueIntroductionReal Opportunities updates, Mission to Lars and Learning Disability Wales’ Annual Conference.

Richard’s StoryThe story of how Richard Davey has taken big steps to becoming independent thanks to the Neath hub team.

Corey’s Work ExperienceCorey Richardson tells us about his recent supported work experience with Learning Disability Wales.

Healthy Living in CaerphillyThe Caerphilly Hub Team host a healthy living day.

Training & EventsA list of upcoming projecttraining and events.

Over the summer Real Opportunities hub teams across all 9 local authorities have been busy supporting young people to become more independent, and this month we’ve had so many great news items we just couldn’t fit it all into the newsletter. So please make sure you check out our Facebook page and Website (www.realopportunities.org.uk) where you can find stories about the Merthyr hub team’s epic 4 day summer camp adventure, how travel training has helped participant Callum Ellis travel independently for work, college and social activities and hear stories from 3 project participants Lacey, Christian and Matthew about the support they’ve received from supported employment agencies Elite and Mencap.

The film ‘Mission to Lars’, which follows Tom Spicer who has Fragile X Syndrome (the most common form of inherited learning disability) on his quest to meet Lars Ulrich, the drummer of Metallica, will have its Welsh premiere at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff on the 17th October. On the 18th, the premiere, presented by Learning Disability Wales and Mencap Cymru, will be followed by a question and answer session with Kate Spicer, producer of the film and Tom’s sister. Mission to Lars is a brilliant, emotional, beautiful film, about one man’s dream and his siblings’ desire to fulfil it. For more information watch the trailer at http://missiontolars.com. Tickets are available from Chapter Arts Centre (telephone: 029 2031 1050 website: www.chapter.org). For more information contact Kai Jones at Learning Disability Wales (telephone: 029 2068 1160).

Learning Disability Wales will be hosting its annual two day conference called ‘Key to Your Home’ on the 13th and 14th November 2012 at the Holiday Inn, Newport. This year, the conference will be focusing on the theme of accommodation for people with a learning disability. The conference will look at accommodation options available,

personalised technology and safety in the home and other housing issues and will include informative workshops. For further

information please visit www.learningdisabilitywales.org.uk

Laura DaviesProject Information Officer

Richard is 16 years old and has been NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) since January 2012. Richard was referred to the Real Opportunities Team in May 2012. An assessment of his needs was carried out and areas of support identified as to how the project could support Richard.When staff from the project first met with Richard they made sure that questions were addressed to him, and not to his parents. This pleased Richard immensely, as in the past his parents have always spoken for him, and not given him a chance to speak for himself. Richard was allocated to Yvonne Richards, Transition Key Worker, and Daniel Moses, Independent Living Skills. A few visits were made to see Richard at his home to get to know him better. At first Richard would not engage or make eye contact while communicating and would always keep his face covered with a hood or hat. He would not come down from his bedroom, so Yvonne and Daniel went to him and worked with him in his bedroom or on the landing, gathering information for his one page profile, each time working towards promoting his confidence and self-esteem.From working with Richard on a one-to-one basis and building a trusting relationship, Richard began to open up and say what he wanted for his future. Richard has gone from not going anywhere, not wanting to leave his home or mix with his peers to taking part in a ‘Mini Olympics’ activity day at Maes Y Coed Special School with 9 other pupils. He played team sports and was encouraging towards his team members. For Richard to turn up and take part was a huge achievement. The staff were all

richard’sstoryRichard Davey from Neath has been working with the Real Opportunities project for 3 months. In that time, thanks to the hard work of the Neath hub team, he has made really positive steps to a more independent future!

so proud of him and said it was lovely to see him smiling. Richard won an award that day for best sportsmanship.Over the past few months Richards’s confidence has just grown and grown. He will now initiaite and take part in conversations; he wants to improve his appearance and look good. Richard has gone from a young man who the only reason for attending college was to have money from his EMA to now wanting to go to meet new friends and to learn.Two days before Richard was due to go to college he spoke to Yvonne on the phone requesting she visit him as he had a surprise for her. When Yvonne went to his home, Richard was dressed in his new clothes that his mother had bought for him for college and sporting a new short haircut which was easier for him to manage. Richard was so pleased with his new appearance he couldn’t wait to show it off to Yvonne. Richard was happy for his photograph to be taken for his one page profile and was so happy and proud of how far he had come. He had taken his hood down and was happy to show his face.Yvonne and Daniel went to the college to see Richard on his first day to talk to him about any worries or concerns that he may have. Yvonne said it was lovely to see Richard interacting with his peers and being part of the group. Mr and Mrs Davey stated that if it wasn’t for the support that Richard had received from the project there was no way he would be going there. She stated Yvonne and Daniel had worked magic with Richard and cannot thank them enough for what they have done.

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Why did you choose to do your work experience in an office?Because I’m used to computers and I can learn new stuff.What did you have to do on your work experience? Make sure I went to bed early so I got up in time and have a shower, make sure you are clean and bring lunch. Type stuff on the computer and I went on the web site and put pictures on it like the Remploy and Elite logos, and went to a meeting it was interesting.

How were you supported by your support worker?I’m very supported. Helping me to spell some words and giving me a lift because it’s far away.Do you think that the work experience would help you in the future?Yes because it will help me accomplish many things in the future. I also did a job experience in Remploy, it was fun because I got to see new people and learn new stuff. I’m more confident than before because you meet new people and you might get shy or

corEy’s WorK EXPEriENcECorey Richardson from Ystalafera has recently started working with the Real Opportunities hub team in Neath. Since registering on the project, Corey has undergone a supported work placement at Learning Disability Wales with Elite. Corey tells us about his experience.

The group had a basic understanding of the importance of being healthy and eating the right foods but due to mixed messages from peers, media and other places they were unsure what a healthy diet truly is. During the summer holidays the Caerphilly hub team facilitated a healthy living day to enable young people to explore the issue. Over the course of the day the young people discussed what their diet should look like, learned how to read food labels and made some healthy, tasty meals.Activities included nutritional games, Food Traffic Lights & the Eat Well Plate. During Food Traffic Lights, young people had to read food labels and compare them to their nutritional wallet card to see if it was RED(bad), YELLOW(okay) or GREEN(good) in terms of fat, sugar and salt content. During this game the young people were given key messages about these nutrients and the role they play both positively and negatively if over consumed. During the Eat Well Plate game, young people had to work out which food belonged in which food group. This allowed them to see what a balanced diet looked like, how many portions of certain foods is healthy to eat, and most importantly see what a portion size actually is.

Independent living skills were also promoted throughout as the young people had to shop and pay for ingredients, prepare meals and follow food hygiene procedures when in the kitchen.The team had lots of positive feedback from the young people including: ‘The food was delicious’, ‘This has helped me to learn about being healthy, I’m going to make better choices in the future’ and ‘I’ve had a great day, the games were fun and I’ve learned loads.’

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A group of young people from the Caerphilly hub identified that they would like to learn more about healthy eating, so the Caerphilly hub team obliged by organising a healthy living day.

hEaLthy LiViNGiN caErPhiLLy

nervous. Yes because I can get a reference. What did you enjoy the most?Everything, it was fun and interesting typing stuff on the computer, going to a meeting, meeting new people and learning new skills, having fun and answering phone calls in Welsh and English. What other work would you like to try?A game tester because I like playing games, mostly fighting games. The most funny thing about it is every time I win they call me a spammer or a cheater but they’re jealous because I’m way better than them. My favourite fighting game is Naruto, my best person is pain Sasuke Naruto Tobi Itachi and Garra and Danzo and Madra What are you going to do next?Going to Neath college, after the summer I’m doing a vocational access course. After college I want to be a game tester.Catherine Latham from Elite said “the placement

proved to be a very positive experience for Corey and has helped develop Corey’s work skills and confidence”.

Corey at his placement, supported by Catherine from Elite

Young people taking part in the Eat Well Plate activity.

Inclusion NetworkDate: 21st September 2012Time: 10:00am - 1:00pmVenue: Forge Fach Community Resource CentreFor: Youth Inclusion, Peer Mentors, Psychology Support

Five Day PCP, Days 3 + 4Date: 25th & 26th September 2012Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm 10:00am - 3:00pm (26th Sept)Venue: Waterfront Church, SwanseaFor: Those who attended days 1 and 2.

Introduction to PCPDate: 28th September 2012Time: 10:00am - 4:00pmVenue: BCLC Cefn Cribwr, BridgendFor: Bridgend

Introduction to PCPDate: 17th October 2012Time: 10am – 4pmVenue: BCLC Cefn Cribwr, BridgendFor: Anyone in NPT, Bridgend and Merthyr

Planning for the Future NetworkDate: 19th October 2012Time: 10am – 1pmVenue: Forge Fach Community Resource CentreFor: Anyone in Merthyr, Bridgend, NPT

Employment NetworkDate: 23rd November 2012Time: 10am – 1pmVenue: Forge Fach Community Resource CentreFor: Transition Workers and Supported Employment

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

traiNiNG & EVENts

To 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.