Education, apprenticeships, and employment

If you are an adult living with a disability, you can gain new skills to further your education, give you potential employment opportunities, and live an enriched, fulfilled life.

Isle of Wight College If you would like to continue your education, we can point you to the relevant services and providers that can help you.

Adult Community Learning offers courses for adults 19 years of age and over to gain qualifications in maths, English, or computer and digital skills. We also provide career appointments.

Isle of Wight College supports all students with a disability to pursue the course of your choice or work towards your preferred career path.

Local Offer provides information regarding further education opportunities for young adults up to the age of 25 years.

Apprenticeships can help you get the skills and qualifications that are needed in the industry of your choice. Typically, your apprenticeship will take between one and four years depending on the career area chosen. Local apprenticeship providers include:

• Isle of Wight Council
• Isle of Wight College
  
• HTP Apprenticeship College.

Our No Barriers service helps adults with a disability to gain employment opportunities and build confidence and self-esteem. Our support offers:

• work-related training
• help with CV writing
• interview skills preparation
• employment skills, including health and safety, customer service, and personal presentation
• building confidence to get to work by walking, cycling, or using public transport
• refer you to local training providers
• work experience
• volunteering
• part- or full-time work with a local business
• advice if your benefit is likely to be affected by employment and training opportunities.

If you are receiving benefits, it may seem like a barrier to getting a job because you may think your benefits will be affected. We can support you to work within the permitted work rules so you can earn a wage and have a job or career without it affecting your benefits.

To keep up to date with our service follow us on Facebook.

Although our service is for adults aged 18 years and over, if you are under 18 years of age and you think you might benefit from our support, please contact us.

Please complete a referral form to access our service or email adultnobarriers@iow.gov.uk, and we will contact you to arrange for a needs assessment once we have received your referral form.

This club can help you find and apply for a job. We will work with you to identify a suitable role or provide training to help you gain employment skills. We can help with:

• expressing interest in a role
• completing your job application
• providing support at your interview.

We meet every Friday between 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4pm at the No Barriers office, Adelaide Resource Centre, Adelaide Place Ryde, PO33 3DQ. If you wish to attend, email adultnobarriers@iow.gov.uk

• The Way Forward Programme provides training and employment for adults living on the Island with autism and other disabilities.
• Job Centre Plus Disability Employment Advisers can provide advice and support to help you find work.
• Access to Work scheme can help you find a job or provide appropriate support if you already have a job. If you have a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition, Access to work can provide practical and financial support to help you overcome barriers to starting or keeping a job.