We offer Mentoring and Work Experience Programmes.
TEX - Teens Exploring Work - Key Information
Summer 2024
When can I apply?
There are 2 spaces remaining on this years programme . If you are interested in applying, please email Jo Dilworth, jo@appeer.org.uk by Thursday 1st August 2024.
Who is the Programme for?
Following our successful Teens Exploring Work programmes in the last 3 years, we are running a fourth programme for Surrey based autistic teenage girls and young people assigned female at birth aged between 16-18 this Summer (must have turned 16 or be turning 16 by 31/12/2024 or still be 18 on 1st September 2024).
What is the aim of the Programme?
The objective of the programme is to provide an opportunity for social inclusion through work experience during our sessions for autistic girls aged 7-12, to develop employability and life skills as well as to support personal, social and wellbeing benefits by;
- providing ‘on the job’ real work experience and helping the teens gain valuable work & life skills and mentoring to support future employability.
- hearing from autistic women about their experiences of work.
- helping the teens recognise and accept their strengths and challenges and how these can be both enablers and barriers in work and social situations.
- helping the teens collaborate, plan and deliver activities with their peers and be supported to develop skills to help them communicate and negotiate in tasks and social situations.
- helping the teens develop necessary life skills including researching, planning activities to a budget, preparing food and refreshment and more.
- promoting positive wellbeing and offering a space for the teens to share issues with staff/facilitators outside of the family.
- Providing opportunities for independence.
The programme will also:
- Provide a forum for parents/carers of the teens to find peer and specialist support including advice from a professional with experience of supporting autistic women in the workplace and from autistic women (talks/sessions will be arranged).
- Support many younger autistic girls and their families to benefit from activities and make links with older mentors.
What will happen during the Programme?
The teens involved will help plan and run activities for autistic girls aged 7-12 in hobbies like arts and crafts activities, baking, Forest school activities and more. The teens will also complete different activities in small groups to understand their own work skills and goals, being autistic and neurodivergent and how they can advocate for what they need in the future.
A room with tea/coffee and a Parent/Carer facilitator will also be available for parents/carers.
There will also be a talk via Zoom in early August for parents/carers delivered by Rachel Pearson from AS Mentoring on preparing your young person for work and/or University.
Who will be running the Programme?
- Rachel Pearson – Appeer Director and AS Mentoring Autism Mentor supporting autistic adults to access work and further education placements and in work and life skills.
- Jo Dilworth – Appeer CEO with extensive education and charity experience and a neurodivergent woman.
- Kris Cornell – Appeer Girls Programme Manager.
- Casey Collin – Appeer Neurodiversity Facilitator.
- Further autistic women and Appeer staff members.
Where will the Programme be held?
The Programme will be held in Woking.
Times and Dates-
The dates for our 2024 TEX Programme are the 5th, 7th and 9th and 19th August.
How do I apply?
Please email jo@appeer.org.uk by Thursday 1st August 2024
Please note, our current programmes have been designed to support those who are suspected or diagnosed as being autistic, who may also have other neurodiverse conditions. In the future we hope to expand our activities to support those with other neurodiverse conditions who aren't autistic too, e.g. ADHD.
