We offer Mentoring and Work Experience Programmes
Explore Programme - Key Information
What is the Appeer Explore Programme?
The Explore Programme is an Appeer Alternative Provision Programme which takes place during the week in term time. Explore follows a rolling 12-week plan which enables participants to build confidence each time they access activities. The Programme is a 2-hour weekly group session where autistic young women aged 16-25 who can connect with their peers, gain skills and experience whilst enjoying a range of activities.
Who is the Group for?
This Groups is for autistic young women aged 16-25 who:
- may be NEET - not in Employment, Education or Training
- may be in work, including those who work part time or volunteer outside of their home
- may be in education, including those who access online or in person Further or Higher Education.
- Have a diagnosis of autism or are actively seeking a diagnosis.
- Can travel to our setting in Woking, Surrey either independently or with a parent/carer.
- Are 16 to 25 years of age (there is some flexibility to cater for those above 25 years).
- Identify as a girl or woman (she/her) or who were socialised as females and/or were assigned female at birth who may be gender questioning.
- Can access the Group without 1:1 support and with a reasonable degree of independence.
- We can support Participants who have EHCPs (this includes those who have EOTAS packages or who are on a college/university roll but require additional support from Appeer to help make college/university successful).
What is the aim of the Group?
The main aim of the Group is to provided structured support to autistic young women aged 16-25 to connect with their peers, reduce social isolation, gain work and life skills and increase confidence accessing the community.
The activities aim to:
- Reduce social isolation and boost wellbeing.
- Explore, discuss and practice life skills and work skills.
- Explore and promote an understanding of self, including as autistic and neurodivergent individuals.
- Improve abilities to connect, self-advocate and communicate with others.
- Explore and experience the local community.
Equally importantly, the Group provides a pressure-free space for the Participants to be valued and supported just as they are, so they can express themselves, explore their interests and talents on their own terms and in a neuro-affirming environment.
The Group aims to support our participants to:
· Build positive social experiences in a supportive setting
· Appreciate the world around them including culture and citizenship both locally and globally
· Build trusting relationships with staff and peers and engage with those around them
· Explore career aspirations and develop work skills including CV writing, applying for jobs and interview practice.
· Further develop life skills including managing their space, household tasks, life admin and cooking
· Understand their autism and support needs and how they can enable and advocate for themselves
· Explore their physical and sensory needs as well as well as their mental health and wellbeing
What will happen in each Group?
We offer a choice led Programme, following the
Appeer Key Strands. Our activities are planned in advance to gently encourage and support social connections, life/work skills and independence.
The Programme explores various social and life/work skills and builds experience in these areas by gradually extending participants’ confidence, as each activity is repeated and built on every 12 weeks. Activities may include:
- Exploring the Town Centre – shops, library, post office etc.
- Exploring Travel – planning bus and rail trips, understanding apps and timetables and booking tickets.
- Exploring Careers – discussing volunteering and work opportunities, CV and covering letter writing.
- Exploring Skills – sharing our own talents and learning new skills (craft, art, beauty etc).
- Exploring the Future – discussing and making plans to fulfil our aspirations.
- Exploring Social Lives – discussing and planning social trips and activities together and executing the plans.
How long will the Sessions be?
Each Session lasts 2 hours. Participants are encouraged to engage in our main activity. However, if they choose to stay at our venue rather than do an activity outside of the venue activities may include:
- Arts/crafts activities
- Sensory and wellbeing activities
- Card and board games and a range of magazines and books, e.g., manga
- Informal, facilitated chat
The activities are based around a flexible session plan which will takes following format:
- Welcome. This usually takes the form of joining the table in our room at our venue, to have a brief catch up and check in with staff. (We can arrange a quiet area if you need to settle into the session at your own pace).
- Main Activity - This might be to go out to the shops or travel, or we may do a workshop or learn a new skill in our venue.
- Alternative Activities - We will always aim to provide a board games/craft activity and a quiet area if you need some downtime in any given week or session.
- Come back to the venue to listen to the plan for next week and to say goodbye (sometimes we may say goodbye outside of the venue if we have been travelling.
Joining instructions and visual timetables will be sent 5 to 7 days before sessions.
Why do you repeat the Programme every 12 weeks?
Every 12 weeks we repeat the Programme in order to build each individual’s confidence in accessing each activity. An example of how this may look is as follows:
Library Access Activity:
Session 1 – Jane managed to go with the group to the library but found it difficult to go inside.
Session 2 – 12 weeks later the group visit the library again, this time Jane could go into the library with the group and take a look around. But, she wasn’t sure about asking for help getting a library card, so she watched her peers ask at the desk.
Session 3 – another 12 weeks later the group visit the library again, this time Jane is able to ask for the library card herself. She was even happy for a new peer to stand with her and our facilitator whilst she asked at the desk!
Session 4 – another 12 weeks later the group visit the library again, this time Jane is able to go in alone, choose a book and use her library card to take it out, independently.
Session 5 – another 12 weeks later the group visit the library again, Jane is able to support a new group member to access the library by showing them her favourite area and pointing out the help desk.
And so on.....
Our Session Plans are choice led and guided by our group, e.g. we might have a broad plan to access the Library in Week 4, but most of the Group may want to go and look at the Post Office instead. This is why we email a Session Plan out to our Participants at least 48 hours in advance of each Session – sometimes it changes slightly depending on what the cohort need and want.
Where will the Group be held?
The Explore Group is held at a quiet community venue in Woking. There is dedicated parking on site and it's about 5 minutes walk from Woking station.
What times are the Groups?
The Group takes place on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm. Please see our Term Dates page for the dates of the Sessions.
How much does it cost and how do I book?
Our fees can be found on our fees page
here. We offer self-funded places, but most places are funded by the local authority or school/college. Please contact Cathryn our Head of Programmes and Communication to discuss at cathryn@appeer.org.uk
Is there parking at the venue?
There is parking at the venue.
Who leads the Group?
Our Women's Programme lead runs the Group. She is supported by other experienced and trained Appeer Facilitators. They are supported by Cathryn our Head of Programmes and Communications.
Can my parent/carer/friend stay with me?
If you are anxious your parent/carer/friend can stay near you for all or parts of the Session if you feel you need their support – perhaps on your first Session or if you are going through a difficult time. It is up to you. The parents/carers/friends are also able to wait in the reception of the building if they/you wish but we hope that you will be able to attend the majority of Sessions on your own.
What options are open to me when I am confident in all aspects of Explore and want to move on?
You may have the opportunity to join our Next Steps Programme which is a bespoke Supported Work Experience Programme.
