New Pathfinder projects for young people with learning difficulties in South Yorkshire

Speaking Up, an award winning charity for people with learning difficulties, have been awarded £3.2 million by the Department of Children, Schools and Families to provide youth projects that will reach 7,000 young people with disabilities in 9 local authority areas across the UK.

The projects in South Yorkshire (one of the four hubs to benefit from the funding) will address the needs for hard to reach disabled young people by giving them a voice and supporting them at varying stages in their lives.

Speaking Up has been recognized as a pathfinder organization and will spearhead the following initiatives:

Young People Speaking Up – supporting 13 – 19 year olds with learning difficulties at school or college through coaching and one-to-one mentoring. This project will support young people to speak up for themselves, become more confident and set them on the path to transition.

Speaking Up Youth Parliament – supporting 14 - 25 year olds with learning difficulties who use community services to lead youth forums where they will put their views across to professionals and decision makers, and become involved in the issues affecting their lives.

Young People Next Steps – this project will support 16 – 25 year olds with learning difficulties to lead a community based lifestyle and either gain employment and volunteering placements or move into further learning and training opportunities.

Craig Milburn, Project Leader said “The Young People Speaking Up team in South Yorkshire are currently involved in consultancy sessions with the young people in the area in order to shape the services that will be offered. If you would be interested in getting involved then please contact us.”

Craig Milburn
Project Leader
Speaking Up

tel. 07827444076
craig.milburn@speakingup.org
www.speakingup.org