EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT

We want to help you aim high and achieve your goals whatever they may be! You might already have an idea of the kind of job, course, or career you want to go into. Or maybe you're still figuring it out and that's okay.

Your Young Person’s Advisor (YPA) is here to support you every step of the way. You will also have access to an Education, Employment & Training (EET) Adviser, who can help you explore your options, give advice, and guide you to make choices that are right for you.

We work closely with Connexions and other local organisations to find opportunities that match your interests and needs whether that’s college, training, apprenticeships, or work.

Support we can offer you:

• Until you are 18 years old a Personal Education Plan (PEP) to help and support you in post 16 education, employment, or training. This is a plan that is solely about education employment and training and is there to support your progress, career aspirations and goals
• Support from a dedicated Education, Employment and Training Adviser as part of the Virtual School team from year 11 right up to 25 your aspirations and career choices
• Support to apply for the 16 – 19 Vulnerable bursary and any additional financial incentives you may be entitled to
• Support  with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and to access and engage with relevant benefit entitlements, we also offer a bespoke service for young people at the Oasis Hub if you find attending the job centre challenging. We have a designated person to support you in each of our job centre locations
• Support and guidance to you help you with financial planning
• Support you to access a programme to help you develop financial know how the Sharefound that contributes to your Junior ISA once you turn 18 where you:
  • are between 15 and 17 years old
• have been in care for 12 months or more
• can earn financial incentives for each step you complete up to a maximum of £700
• Stepladder Plus | The Share Foundation
• Specialist Education Employment Training Advisers available to support you if you have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP)
• If you have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) your Employment and Training Adviser can support, you with your annual review and support you to make career choices
• If you have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) you may be eligible for tailored employment support with the Supported Employment Team, where you are:
  • Aged 16 years or over
• A resident of Wolverhampton or receive a service from the City of Wolverhampton Council
• Have a care and/or support need assessed by Adult Social Care with Learning Disabilities Physical Disabilities and/or Autism
• Currently hold an EHC Plan or have previously had an EHC Plan
• Have a mild Learning disability, physical or sensory impairment, and need support to obtain sustainable employment
• If you have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) you may be eligible to undertake a Supported Internship. A Supported Internship is:
• A supported internship is a structured work-based study programme for 16 – 24-year-olds.
• Last for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months
• Supported Internships are not paid but you can access the usual benefits you are entitled to during this time
• Both Adult Education and City of Wolverhampton College offer supported internships
• Further information can be found on the SEND Local Offer

University

If you attend a University our Education, Employment and Training Advisers are here to support you and to help you access your entitlements.  

Support we can offer you:

• Support with your UCAS application, your Student Finance application, exploring Universities and accessing your entitlements
• Support to look for suitable accommodation at home or away and support you during vacation weeks as well as term time
• Support to access and explore scholarships and additional bursaries that you may be entitled to
• Financial support towards your rent costs for the whole year (please speak to your Education, Employment and Training Adviser or Young Person’s Advisor for further information)
• A Higher Education Bursary of £2000 split over the duration of your degree from the Reach Leaving Care Team
• Support to buy books and equipment up to £100
• Support with academic reviews with the University to support you to settle in, help you keep on track and offer any additional support you may require from either the Virtual School Education, Employment and Training Adviser, The Reach Leaving Care Team or the University
• Financial support with graduation costs if these are not provided by your university
• Support from an Education, Employment and Training Adviser when leaving University to help explore your next steps and access to graduate and employment opportunities

Careers Advice

We can offer you:

• Weekly drop-in sessions at The REACH Oasis Hub every Thursday for career advice and guidance, support and help with job search, building your CV, preparation for an interview and anything else related to education employment and training
• If you are unable to attend the Oasis hub, one to one appointment can be made with your Education, Employment and Training Adviser
• Support to explore long term career planning and access support until you reach 25
• Support from Connexions, who provide careers advice and support to young people aged 13-19, and up to age 25 if you have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). To contact Connexions or make an appointment with a Personal Advisor call 01902 554499 or email Connexions@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Work Experience

We can offer you:

• Support with exploring a work experience placement with your Education, Employment and Training Adviser
• If you are age 18 plus you can access work experience through the Open Door Project, this can be for a minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks for further information please ask your Education, Employment and Training Adviser for a referral
• Support to access additional opportunities for care leavers from the Care Leavers Covenant.

Interview Help

We can offer you:

• Support to help buy clothes for an interview
• Support from a Education, Employment and Training Advisers and your Young Person Adviser to attend interviews and appointments with benefit services/work coaches, job interviews and interviews for education
• Support from a Education, Employment and Training Adviser with interview skills and organise mock interviews for you before you attend your real one and provide you with hints and tips and preparation
• Support with free dry-cleaning services through Timpson’s Cleaners to help you to prepare for interviews
• If you are female, support with clothes for an interview, a dressing session and interview preparation with Smart Works (ask your Education, Employment and Training Adviser for more information)

Apprenticeships and jobs at the City of Wolverhampton:

The City of Wolverhampton Council activity supports job opportunities and s apprenticeship for Care Leavers.  As a Wolverhampton care leaver we offer:

•  guaranteed an interview for any apprenticeships you apply for as long as you meet the essential criteria
• able to apply for any job opportunity at an “internal” stage (if you meet the essential criteria) rather than when they are published for “general” applications

Apprenticeships

We can offer:

•  Support to apply for apprenticeships
• Support to apply for a £3000 support bursary when you have been in your apprenticeship for 12 weeks and more, this is paid in three instalments throughout your apprenticeship
• You can find out about opportunities on getting into work through  Apprenticeships in Wolverhampton | Workbox or Search apprenticeship – Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK

Travel to Work, Training or Education

We can offer:

• Support to get a 16-18 photocard which entitles all 16-18-year-olds to buy child rate tickets for travel on the bus, train and tram. The 16-18 photocard is available to those in full-time education, apprentices, trainees and those in employment
• You could be entitled to an English National Concessionary if you are registered disabled you can have free travel by bus anywhere in England during 'off-peak' times from Monday to Friday.
• You are also entitled to a free Swift bus pass through travel West Midlands (please ask you Young Persons Advisor for more information).
• You may be able to access support with driving lessons as part of our pilot to support care leavers in education, training or employment in getting to and from work or training.

You can visit the REACH Oasis drop-in centre every Thursday, 1pm – 6pm to meet with your peers, Young Person’s Advisor’s and a variety of support services to help and support you.