All young people have decisions to make at a number of key transition points; these decisions are often more complex and challenging for SEND young people and their parents/carers. The SEND Work taster contract delivered by Inspira enables SEND young people to experience a job role first hand and while this is a learning experience for the young people, it also provides an opportunity for Advisers to talk to employers about opening more pathways into employment for disadvantaged groups.

Over the Summer, we used the SEND National Citizen Service (NCS) group to kick start the contract and made excellent progress towards our targets for the first quarter. This is always good news especially when the contract has a very short time frame.

The theme of the SEND NCS programme this year was the World of Work and during the first residential the young people found out about the jobs available on site at the Calvert Trust – activity instructor, cook, gardener, receptionist and housekeeping staff. The young people certainly made an impression on staff with their interviewing skills and gained an understanding of part time work, self employment, split shifts and training routes.

During the second residential, the two groups took part in behind the scenes visits to Radio Cumbria, and Sainsbury’s to find out more about the different work opportunities available with them as well as collecting goody bags and a pizza! This was topped off with a visit to Tullie House where the young people were able to gain an insight into what the world of work might have looked like in years gone by – taxidermist, chimney sweep, cook and parlour maid to name a few, and also to consider current jobs available in a Museum.

The young people kept a journal of their findings complete with photographs as evidence to support the Work Taster Contract and this will be returned to them at their NCS Graduation.