Lighthouse Futures Trust

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.