Hounslow Council has partnered with Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy to help young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) gain vital skills and work experience.
Supported by Work Hounslow and the Inclusive Employment Forum, Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy delivered a tailored skills workshop for 17 young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) on Thursday, 13 November.
The Academy is one of 17 local organisations who form the Inclusive Employment Forum in the borough, a business-led network that seeks to create more accessible career paths for young people with SEND aged 16-25.
An evaluation survey of the workshop found that 88% of participants felt they had a better understanding of the world of work and were more confident about entering employment.
Ayush, an intern at Sheraton Hotel through Hounslow DFN Project SEARCH Supported Internship, attended the workshop and shared his experience:
When I was growing up, I was very interested in planes but I didn't know how airports really worked. I plan to work in the travel sector so this workshop was really useful for building my career.
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills and Employment, at Hounslow Council, said:
I’m pleased to see our young people making positive progress towards training or work. Through the Council’s Youth Skills and Employment Guarantee (YSEG) initiative, we’ve secured 25,000 hours of work experience and supported 450 young people to access education, training or employment opportunities.
By working with local businesses, partners and organisations to create meaningful pathways, we want to ensure our young people who have experienced barriers to employment can thrive.
Employers and organisations interested in learning more about the Inclusive Employment Forum or signing up can email nicky.bitar@hounslow.gov.uk.
To find out the Council’s employment support for young people in the borough, contact The Participation Team and Work Hounslow.
