Bridge 2 Employment
The Bridge to Employment Programme (B2E) is Better Lives Partnership’s Flagship project.
It aims to give young autistic people a structured programme of person-centred accredited learning in their area of interest and expertise, and work-related skills and to prepare them for the next step towards employment, self-employment, education, training or volunteering.
B2E develops unique opportunities for each young person that incorporates one or all of the following; employability skills, work experience and social enterprise.
B2E is unique to Dumfries and Galloway in terms of its delivery style and target group. Through B2E we also offer our young people opportunities to develop essential core skills such as being able to travel independently, writing job applications, attending interviews, managing social interactions and working independently.
What do we offer?
The B2E Programme offers our young people 4 interlinked core strands. These are delivered together in a person-centred way giving the young people the best opportunity for transition:-
- Employability
- Enterprise and the Community
- Independent Living
- Social, Mental Health & Wellbeing
B2E starts with young people and builds on their existing skills and knowledge.
Image – Young person volunteering at Threave Estate
ASDAN
So our young people can be awarded accredited certificates for their work with us, we offer a range of ASDAN courses across our 3 sites.
ASDAN offers a wide of courses and qualifications, which are targeted toward learners working over a range of levels. These programs are activity-based and offer a more flexible way of gaining qualifications and our staff are able to develop person-centred means of assessing and certificating young people’s knowledge and skills development.
What does each strand cover?
Each strand gives the young person a unique opportunity to engage with different sessions that they are interested in.
- Employability sessions include skills relating to employment, Entry 3 Award (ASDAN), Level 1 Award (ASDAN), Employer Engagement and Work Experience Placement
- Enterprise and the Community sessions include Enterprise Short Course (ASDAN), Community Engagement, Volunteering Placement, Group Volunteering and Fundraising
- Independent Living sessions include Towards Independence Course (ASDAN), Living Independently Short Course (ASDAN), Foodwise Short Course (ASDAN), Skills Accreditation Programme and Numeracy & Literacy Skills
- Social, Mental Health & Wellbeing sessions include Social Time, Expressive Arts Short Courses (ASDAN), PSHE Short Course (ASDAN), Art sessions, Trips, Activities and Individual Choice of ASDAN or SAP Course
Image – Young person volunteering at Threave Estate
Jonny is working towards his own Gym!
Jonny is one of our first young people to join our Bridge 2 Employment programme. Since completing the programme Jonny has completed a HND at college and now has dreams of opening his own gym!
He is now being supported to develop his idea and learn about the requirements of running your own business.
As part of this work, Jonny has been volunteering with us in Castle Douglas running his own fitness sessions for our young people and staff!
