Aspire to Be, the Doncaster-based employability service, has received an important grant which will enable delivery of a personalised employability and work simulation programme for 16–19-year-olds in the city.
The funding will ensure underrepresented residents of Doncaster benefit from sector specific skills training, personal development and employer engagement five days per week – all with the overarching aim of better meeting resident’s unique needs and driving up rates of employment.
The grant funding comes from the City of Doncaster Council via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer, as part of the South Yorkshire Pathways to Work agenda.
This additional funding is aimed specifically at supporting young people from Doncaster aged 16–19 to help them overcome challenges such as anxiety, communication, neurodiversity, mental health needs and those at risk of social isolation into sustainable work. The offer will equip them with the personalised training, skills, support and confidence they need to thrive.
Sue Farmer, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families said: “I’m delighted that this funding will open meaningful opportunities for young people across Doncaster. The tailored hands-on support and simulated work environments offered by Aspire to Be will empower residents from underrepresented groups with the skills, confidence, and training they need to overcome barriers and secure fulfilling, long-term employment.”
Tina Rafferty, programme manager for Aspire to Be, said: “This is fantastic news, which provides us with the funding to really make a difference for this age group. We are still available for our full age range across the region but this extra funding gives us the resource to specifically target more people aged 16-19 from Doncaster and encourage them to be referred to Aspire to Be, either by self-referral or via other external agencies. Our progression pathways can lead to apprenticeship opportunities, further education or employment.”
“This new grant will allow us to provide this age group with training to gain the skills they need to find employment. We are unique and very different to other educational providers; the difference is there are no classrooms or pen or paper used; all training is hands-on using sector specific simulated areas.”
“We have a warehouse, hotel room, residential care setting, NHS hospital setting, health and social care room, shop, kitchen and cafe setting. The training we provide covers warehousing, hospitality, cleaning, NHS facilities, adult social care, kitchen assistant and retail so it is very varied giving people extensive and person-centred opportunities to learn vital skills to get into work.”
Based on Leger Way, Aspire to Be is managed by Doncaster Deaf Trust and specialises in helping people aged 16-60 from South Yorkshire who are deaf/hard of hearing, neurodiverse or who have any other communication difficulty, with the opportunity to develop their skills and support them into work.
Recent success stories have included 18-year-old Annalise from Doncaster, who has a learning difference and began working with Aspire to Be earlier this year. Annalise will soon start a new job as a services assistant at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
For more information about Aspire to Be, please visit www.deaf-trust.co.uk/employability/aspire-to-be/ or contact Tina at tina.raffery@cscd.ac.uk
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