Advance is a 3 Step Youth Opportunity Programme to jobs and new horizons for young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETS). The programme is managed by The BEST Network and has the support and backing of the Department for Work and Pensions. Aspire, part of Autism West Midlands, is delivering the programme to young people in Birmingham who have autism or Asperger syndrome and are aged 14-24. The programme will provide opportunities to:

• Develop yourself
• Connect to opportunities
• Secure the job you want

You can find out more about the programme on this page, download our leaflet, or read the leaflet online below.

How the programme works

You will be assigned a mentor and the work with this mentor could continue for up to three years. The support will be tailored to your individual needs and decided after initial meetings with you, where an action plan of support and an agreement will be created. The programme of support offered is likely to be delivered initially on a 1:1 basis with the anticipation that in the longer term there will be group activities and workshops for you to attend.

The support is not designed to be additional teaching support - it will focus more on personal development support outside of the curriculum. However, some support for managing and organising work could be included if necessary.

Year 10 and 11 pupils (aged 16-17)

We are offering two types of support:

1.Mentoring to help you work on any issues affecting your academic achievement, personal/social relationships and confidence. For this support you will need to:

• Have behavioural problems at school
• Have attendance issues at school or a need for extra support to help get through your GCSEs
• Be living in Birmingham or Solihull

2. Tailored level one qualification in employability skills. For this support you will need to be:

• Currently without a level one qualification
• Willing to attend for 4 weeks over the summer holidays
• Experiencing difficulties at school
• Living in Birmingham or Solihull

Year 12 and 13 pupils (aged 17-18)

We are offering two types of support:

1. Mentoring to help you work on any issues affecting your academic achievement, personal/social relationships and confidence. For this support you must be studying or wanting to study for your first level one, two or three qualification and be:

• Having problems at college/school and be at risk of falling out of provision
• …or require extra support to help get you through your qualification
• Living in Birmingham or Solihull

2. Pre-employment support through 1:1 mentoring and group work. For this support you need to be:

• Currently looking for work and willing to work for over 16 hours per week
• Living in Birmingham or Solihull
• 6 months NEET or at a high risk of becoming NEET after leaving education

18-24 year olds

We are offering three types of support

1. Mentoring to help you work on any issues affecting your academic achievement, personal/social relationships and confidence. For this support you must be studying or wanting to study for your first level three qualification and be:

• Having problems at college/school and be at risk of falling out of provision and becoming NEET
• ...or require extra support to help get you through your qualification
• Living in Birmingham or Solihull

2. Pre-employment support through 1:1 mentoring and group work. For this support you need to be:

• Currently looking for work and willing to work for over 16 hours per week
• Living in Birmingham or Solihull
• 6 months NEET or at a high risk of becoming NEET after leaving education

3. Mentoring and support to help you stay in education or support to identify appropriate training opportunities to enter level four provision. For this support you must:

• Currently or previously have worked at a suitable level
• Have no previous Level 4 qualification
• 6 months NEET or at a high risk of becoming NEET after leaving education or at risk of falling out of education whilst currently studying
• Living in Birmingham or Solihull

Topics that could be covered

Listed below are some topics that could be covered with you – this list is not exhaustive:

• Managing and coping with anxiety or anger
• Identifying future opportunities and planning for the future
• Viewing situations differently and learning how to take perspective
• Understanding personal relationships
• Understanding more about their autism
• Helping to develop a successful and productive routine
• Developing communication skills
• Building confidence and working as part of a team
• Drug and alcohol awareness
• Sexual health
• Travel support
• Providing support and focus during school holidays

If you would like to know more about the programme or are interested in taking part or making a referral please contact Lynn Marshall at Aspire on 0121 450 7582 or email lynnm@autismwestmidlands.org.uk.