lighthouse futures trust
Leeds
Lighthouse Futures Trust is an innovative and forward-looking organisation with
a mission of changing the lives of young adults. We do this by designing and
delivering engaging employability programmes that include opportunities to work
with a range of local employers via a supported internship. Our curriculum
focuses on two areas – Liveability and Employability – and is aimed at students
aged 18+ with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). We start by getting to know
each of our interns so that we can understand their skills, experiences and
aspirations for the future. We then devise a bespoke programme for them which
combines a range of different elements including: working on-site at a range of
local employers; 1 to 1 coaching & mentoring; group work; support in gaining
qualifications in Maths and English; participating in an enterprise project
where they learn to create and launch a new product and service. Our talented
students have a range of support needs. Some have mild to moderate learning
disabilities, others are on the autistic spectrum or have social, emotional or
mental health support needs. They join the programme because they want to move
into paid employment and showcase their many skills and talents and just need
some extra support in order for them to fulfil their potential. Our role – and
our passion – is to help unlock their talents and shine a light on their
abilities. From the beginning of their journey with us, we support or students
to develop skills so that they can forge their own pathways in work, accessing
specialist support as and when they need it, but taking ownership of their
future, from the start. We believe that this helps them to find and keep paid
employment more easily, and thus create a more sustainable future.
