Future You and Youth Focus North East have got JG the work experience placement he has been looking for since the lockdown was lifted.

JG - who has ASD, Dyspraxia, and ADHD - is a core member of the Blaydon Inclusive Youth Sessions, before, during, and after lockdown. Prior to the pandemic, he volunteered and had a small amount of paid work, but had not been able to get anything recently - until Future You linked him up with Skills 4 Work, an organisation based In Birtley that works with young adults with additional needs and mental health conditions to transition from education into employment as well as providing wellbeing enrichment activities.

JG was able to take part in four different types of sessions; a well-being walking group, a gardening group, employability sessions and community-based sessions. He has made new friends and built on existing relationships with people he already knew, and was commended for his work in the gardening group.

After the 4th supported session, JG felt ready to go to the project on his own and has been an active member for 2 months. He has recently been supported into a work placement where he is working on a Wednesday morning in a Café in Birtley.

He is very excited to be involved in the project commenting  ‘I have absolutely loved it today, I really like being a part of this project now, and it’s really fun ... doing the First Aid in the employability session was absolutely amazing, I learned so much, and love how I get the chance to do these things.’

Future You helped link JG up with the support needed to attend Skills 4 Work - without the project, he wouldn't have been able to take up the opportunities and transition to a new route to achieve his goals and ambitions. The last word should come from him!

‘Thank you for supporting me to come here, I have loved every minute ... I can’t believe I am in a placement now, and I really enjoy it, it’s so good, I feel I am good at working in a Café.’