Working with disabled children, young people and their families

New KIDS’ volunteering scheme for young disabled people

25 Jul 2012
‘Work Tasters’ is a new KIDS’ volunteering scheme that takes place in Greater Manchester in collaboration with the Free Time Consortium led by Play England.

‘WorkTasters’ is a new KIDS’ volunteering scheme that takes place in GreaterManchester in collaboration with the Free Time Consortium led by Play England.‘Work Tasters’ aims to increase the confidence and self-esteem of youngdisabled people aged 14-25 and develop their employability skills by providinga taste of work in play and leisure.

Read about 24 year old Jay’s experience:

‘My work taster experience took place at an ice rink. The first meetingwith Tracy, the KIDS coordinator, comprised of filling out forms, discussing myrequirements for inclusion as well as choosing the leisure/sports centre that Iwanted to work in.

I chose the Silver Blades Ice Rink in Altrincham. I then went along with Tracy to have a meetingwith Wes, the ice rink manager and to learn more about the role. During themeeting I had a tour of the ice rink, Wes made me feel very welcome, we did arisk assessment for me and we agreed I would come along the next week for myinduction.

I’d been volunteering there for a couple of weeks when Wes asked to seeme. He said how pleased he was with the work I’d been doing and hopedthat I was enjoying it as a paid job had just become available and he wanted tooffer me the opportunity to fill the position.

I’ve made new friends and learned a lot about the sports relating to iceand skating, my confidence has grown and the experience has helped me find apositive direction for my career to go. I am now working part-time at SliverBlades and enjoying every minute’

For more information about KIDS’ ‘Work Tasters’ contact Tracy Ryan on 07584702026 or send an e-mail on tracy.ryan@kids.org.uk.