Skills Towards Employment

You'll learn: communication and social interaction skills, confidence, independence and transferable volunteering skills.

Expect to: receive a personalised approach to learning, starting with an initial assessment of student needs and additional support as required.  English and maths is fully embedded into the course

You'll love: to get involved with volunteering projects within the local community.  Previous volunteering projects include working with the Leonard Cheshire "Can Do" Project, Hop Skip and Jump Centres, Vision 21 community garden initiative and undertaking V Inspired awards.

The Skills Towards Employment course is available to people aged 16-24 requiring a moderate to lower level of additional support in order to move onto volunteering opportunities within the community, Pre-supported Internship Course or supported employment via the Supported Internship course.

The Skills Towards Employment course is specifically designed to increase student’s understanding of volunteering within their community and harness buds of employability skills through community initiative projects and volunteering within their local community to benefit local groups.

Students work in smaller groups with support and guidance offered by a Pastoral Support Worker, Teaching Assistant, and where appropriate by a Learner Support Assistant (individual support).

The Skills Towards Employment course aims to promote students' communication and social interaction skills, confidence, independence, and transferable volunteering skills. With the long term view of students securing voluntary placements within their community Pre-Supported Internship course or supported employment via the Supported Internship course.

The curriculum follows a personalised approach:

• Guidance and help with transition into College involving other agencies as required
• Initial assessment carried out in a supportive manner with student’s needs in mind
• Additional support available as required to aid learning and wellbeing
• English and maths is fully embedded in the learning to promote reading, writing, speaking & listening and number skills
• Individual personalised goals are negotiated and set with the students
• Regular pastoral support is offered
• Regular review and assessment of student progress is a core part of the course
• Close communication regarding progress is maintained with families/carers/other agencies throughout the year
• Transition onto another course or into employment is supported and includes other agencies
• Students have given some very positive feedback about their experiences to date and they have been involved in many projects including:
• The Leonard Cheshire "Can Do" Project - working as a team to plan, fundraise for and deliver a community project
• Viney Hill Christian Activity Centre - tasks include taking down walls, redecorating, maintenance work and gardening
• Hop Skip and Jump (Cotswold, South West and Swindon) - enriching the environment and accessibility to activities for visitors to the centre
• Vision 21 Sandford community garden project – to support growing produce that will benefit the local community through access to low carbon footprint vegetable and fruit
• Social activity award (formerly sports leader award)
• V Inspired awards – encourages learners to volunteer within their community external to their course achieving either bronze, silver or gold awards

Volunteering opportunities change each academic year depending on the needs of our local community