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Reggie Talmey, (above) 24, of Wild Acres, Steeds Lane, Kingsnorth, worked in a farm shop where he learned to make chutneys and jams as well as grading eggs. Dan Inglis, 17, from Folkestone, works for Comet, Ben Middleton, 18, from Dymchurch works for the Folkestone Academy and Luke Prior, 18, from Whitfield in Dover, is paid for gardening work. All of the students say they are really enjoying their jobs, and really valued the help this trial scheme gave them.
South Kent College News
[Posted on: 16-Sep-2009]
Successful Trial Scheme Expanded by Colleges
A trial to get more young people with severe learning difficulties into work is such a success, it is being expanded.
Called Equal Opportunities for Sustained Employment, the pilot has almost reached its ambitious target of 5 students with jobs.
Despite the economic downturn, thanks to the mentoring skills and training on offer, young people are finding out for the first time what it feels like to work in paid employment.
The scheme was started as a partnership between Thanet, Canterbury, South and West Kent further education Colleges, as well as Westgate College and St Nicholas School, with experienced help from the Royal British Legion's Vanessa Blacktop-Wales and Lisa Stock from Kent Supported Employment. Mid Kent has now joined too.
At the beginning, last September, 40 students were chosen as having the potential to be worthwhile to go forward into employment. Each college nominated the students. Some were already on the Skills for Working Life foundation courses.
Vanessa Blacktop-Wales said: 'Everyone is watching to see if this is successful because if it is, other areas will want to do the same. For students, it's very hard to find work without this kind of help. We go with them and support them in the new jobs that they're being asked to do. We also support parents for whom this idea has seemed quite challenging.'
Initially, the scheme talked with students and parents and profiled each young person. They found what the students were interested in and what skills they needed. The students came to College once a week on Fridays where they were helped with CVs.
