Project aims to tackle unemployment rates amongst students.
A careers project has been launched to inspire and support up to 411 special educational needs students at six schools across Warwickshire.
Led by independent careers service provider, In2Ambition, the Career Hive is being run in conjunction with Warwickshire County Council’s Skills for Employment initiative.
Nationally, only around 5.8% of people with additional learning disabilities are in employment, while those people with SEN who are not in employment by the age of 25 are four times more likely to live a lifetime on benefits.
The Career Hive is designed to give students a direct link to the opportunities available to them in the world of work. Students of all ages from the six schools involved – Woodlands School, in Coleshill; Round Oak School, in Warwick; Stratford’s Welcombe Hills School; Brooke School, in Rugby; Exhall Grange, in Coventry, and Oak Wood School, in Nuneaton – will benefit from the project.
A Career Detective Event at Woodlands School on March 6th, was the first in the programme and saw 60 students speed network with more than 10 employers, including Sainsbury’s, Viewpoint Games and British Transport Police. During the event, pupils got to quiz employers on their roles and career paths so far, while the Job Centre also ran a team-building workshop.
Kufa Matiya, CEO at In2Ambition, said: “Projects like this are vital to giving students, who might not always be given the same opportunities as those in mainstream education, the chance to discover and prepare for the job paths open to them. We are exceptionally proud to be working with these six fantastic schools and incredibly excited for the first event next month.”
Claire Cookson, Deputy Head, Woodlands School added: “We’re thrilled to be part of this wonderful project. The support and inspiration the Career Hive will provide to the students is invaluable in helping them understand the jobs that are available and how they can get into these careers.
“We firmly believe that every young person has the right to aspire to a fulfilling and positive future. Our pupils want the same as everyone else; to have a job, earn their own money, have a home and a family – to be a valuable member of society. Working with In2Ambition, we recognise a shared desire to support these students in achieving their goals.”
The Career Hive will run throughout the current academic year, hosting further events across the six schools. For more information on In2Ambition, please visit www.In2Ambition.com. To find out more about the Warwickshire Country Council Skills for Employment initiative, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/skillsforemployment