Supported employment and volunteering

If you have a learning disability, learning difficulty or autism, we can help you build your skills, grow in confidence and flourish in the workplace. We can support you to find and keep a new job, keep an existing job, or volunteer in a role you enjoy.

Who this service is for

We can support adults aged 18 and over who are diagnosed or who feel they may:

• have a learning disability or difficulty

• had an education, health and care plan during school

• are otherwise neurodivergent (including autism)

How we can help

We'll work with you to understand what you enjoy, what you're good at and what kind of work or volunteering role could be a good fit. The support we provide can include:

• help to find out what kind of job would be good for you

• training so you can build basic skills that employers will value

• travel training

• job searching tips

• support to write your CV and prepare for interviews

• job coaching and support at work so you can learn your role

• chances to meet local employers that offer work experience, taster shifts, or working interviews.

We are proud to be delivering DWP Connect to Work SEQF and you may be offered the above support and invited to join the connect to work programme to help you find employment or sustain your existing employment.

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Apply for support

To apply for supported employment or volunteering support, fill in our online form or call us on 01226 774528

When you get in touch, we'll talk to you about the type of work or volunteering you'd like to do, what you like and don't like, and any skills you'd like to build. We'll also help you to see the skills you already have.

If you're a professional looking to make a referral to the service, please fill out our referral form.

Finding and starting a role

We speak to local businesses about roles for people who might need some extra support. With your permission, we may share your CV with an employer to see if a role could be a good fit. If there's a job we think you'll like, we may ask if we can introduce you.

We can help you search for jobs, arrange work placements so you can build experience, or set up a working interview so you can try out a job as a trial.

Support at work

When you've found a role, we can help you learn your job and feel confident in doing it. Our job coaches may be able to come to work with you until you're confident to do the job on your own. We can also help you learn how to travel to work if you need it.

Hear from people we've helped

These stories show how supports employment can help people build skills, confidence and independence at work.

Jess's story

For people with learning difficulties, meeting employers can be hard. A working interview let me show that I can do my job.

Jess at Market Kitchen

Dylan's story

The best bit about doing my job is it has built up my confidence and it's helped me communicate better with other people.

Dylan at Cannon Hall.

You can learn more about Dylan's story on YouTube.

Case studies

Danniella

Danniella’s journey highlights the transformative power of personalised, empathetic employment support. Read Danniella's case study

Heather

Heather's journey demonstrates how early intervention, personalised guidance and access to the right support networks can empower individuals to pursue ambitious career goals. Read Heather's case study

GXO

The partnership between GXO and the Supported Employment Team demonstrates how practical, tailored support can transform workplace inclusion. Read the GXO partnership case study

More information