Work and training for young people with SEND

Ambitious About Autism: Has online Ambitious Youth Network with opportunities.

Choices College (Previously Project Choice): A national specialist post-16 college providing individually tailored supported internships for 16-24 year olds with learning difficulties, disabilities and/or autism. 

Creative Cultural directory: Opportunities for young people in Manchester. Find creative careers programmes, free arts groups, workshops and youth voice groups. Sign up to MADE’s newsletter for more. 

Creative opportunities newsletter: Triple C and the Disabled Artists Networking Community newsletter.

DISC digital internships: Supported internships for 19 to 30 year olds living in Manchester with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). 

Futures For All: O­ffers 14-19-year-old students access to free work experience across a variety of sectors. Placements vary, with a mix of in-person, remote, and hybrid Insight Days and multi-days. 

Hooking to Employability: Unique Post 16 programme in north Manchester based around the sport of boxing for young people who need extra support when leaving school and transitioning into the next stage of their life-long learning. 

Manchester Adult Education Service: Has free courses for city residents age 19+, with a Learning Support team for disabled or neurodivergent learners. Here is their information on financial support while you are studying.

PINC college - Creative college with supported internships.

Skills Bootcamps: Fully-funded and co-funded courses for people aged 19+, including Digital, Construction, Hospitality, and Health and Social Care, with fast track to guaranteed interview.

Sporting Chance: Tailored education programmes in North Manchester. 

Supported internships: Find out about supported internships in the city, including the offer from Pure Innovations and Manchester College. 

The King’s Trust: Sign up to their newsletter which has opportunities for young people.

Venture Arts: Based in Hulme, Venture Arts Arts equips learning disabled people to succeed as artists, advocates, cultural workers, educators, curators and critics.

Disability Rights UK:

• Careers advice and post-16 learning options
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) around benefits and finances
• Disabled Students Helpline

IPSEA: SEN support in post-16 education

SENSE: SEND in post-16 education or training

UCAS: The range of support disabled students can access to help with studies, day-to-day activities, travel, and lifestyle

Supported internships are pathways to employment for young people aged 16-24 with SEND who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Interns are enrolled on a study programme as a student of the college but spend most of their time in a work placement instead of a classroom.

Find out about Supported internships in Manchester, including the offer from Pure Innovations, Manchester College and DISC. 

See Young people with SEND and apprenticeships.

Access to Work grant: To help pay for things like BSL interpreters, adapations to a vehicle so you can get to work, or a support worker.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): If you’re ill or disabled, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) offers you financial support if you’re unable to work or personalised help so that you can work if you’re able to. There are these easy read guides on ESA, as well as Citizens Advice information. 

King's Trust Development Awards: Small grants to support those aged 16-30 to progress into education, training or employment.

Manchester's Rising Stars Fund: We Love MCR fund supporting young people 15-22 (up to 25 with SEND) with grants up to £5,000 so they can take their next steps to success in work, qualifications or entrepreneurship.

Universal Credit for disabled students: Though most young people in education are prevented from being able to get Universal Credit, some are able to qualify. 

Ambition Manchester: One to one support if you are in work but looking to move into a better paid job. Whatever your disability or neurodivergence, the team will gear things to your needs

Ambitious About Autism: Has information on employment, also online Ambitious Youth Network with opportunities.

AutismWISE: Pure Innovations service for autistic people age 18+ in Manchester. Get help with finding a job, getting talking therapy, joining community activities and being referred to other special support.

Careers Connect: Help young people plan their futures and get to where they want to be. They work with young people between 16–18-years old - or up to age 25 if they have an Education Health Care Plan - and who are not currently in education, employment or training.

CodeYourFuture: Offer free courses for 18+ in AI, coding and more, with 1:1 employment support to help you with a career in tech.

Creative opportunities: Triple C is a disabled-led organisation with a mission to drive up the role of deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent people in the arts and screen industries. Sign up for their newsletter, produced with the Disabled Artists Networking Community.

Digital resources: AbilityNet’s digital accessibility services provide free IT support and information to disabled people of any age. Greater Manchester Combined Authority has ‘Get Online Greater Manchester: for disabled people’, a guide to help overcome digital barriers.

Disability Employment Advisers: JobCentre Plus offers this service for disabled workers to help find work or gain new skills for a job. More guidance.

Greater Manchester Higher: A network of higher educatation providers helping young people make informed choices about their future. Has information for underrepresented groups, including young disabled people. 

Looking for work if you're disabled: Government advice on looking for work. 

MadLab: Run free digital skills workshops and drop-ins across Manchester to help people become more confident with technology – including job-searching.

Reasonable adjustments: Employers must make reasonable adjustments to make sure workers with disabilities, or physical or mental health conditions. This applies to all workers, including trainees and apprentices.

Scope - Career Pathways: For young disabled people. Up to three online sessions with a specialist adviser. 

Scope - Employment support e-learning: Learning resources including CV writing and interview tips. 

Scope - Support to Work: A free online and telephone support programme from Scope for disabled people aged 16 and over who are looking for paid work.

Scope - Support to Work Extra: A free online and telephone support programme, as well as in-person in Manchester, for disabled people aged 16 and over looking for paid work, training, volunteering or education opportunities.

SENSE: SEND in post-16 education or training

STEPs: Offer courses around preparing for adulthood to young people aged 18–24 in receipt of an EHCP. Part of Manchester Adult Education Service.

Support at work: A guide for autistic people from from the National Autistic Society. 

The King’s Trust: Sign up to receive in-person and online support around work - all for free.

Training and skills for work: General information on work from Manchester City Council. There is also Work, jobs, training and advice. 

Transition To Employment Toolkit: Ambitious About Autism's toolkit to support autistic young people into the job market. There are also other resources around work. 

Work and Health Programme: A Government programme to help people find and keep a job. 

Work and Skills newsletter: Manchester City Council produces a Work and Skills bulletin with opportunities. Sign up, selecting Work and skills. You can also sign up to the SEND Local Offer newsletter. If you need help with this, here is guidance. 

WorkWell: Do you have a physical or mental health condition that affects your ability to work? WorkWell coaches offer one-on-one support, including guidance on workplace adjustments and exploring employment and career options.

Youth Employment UK: Has lots of career advice for young people, including job hunting, further education, managing money, and volunteering. They also offer free online courses to help build skills and careers confidence, with a course for young people in Home Education.

Guide to volunteering: Scope's guide includes how it might affect your benefits, types of opportunities and what you might get from volunteering. 

Volunteering in Manchester: Volunteer Centre Manchester has a mailing list of opportunities, as well as an online directory. If you need support, you can book a one to one with one of their Volunteering Development Workers.