To find out about services and support available to young people with additional needs and or disabilities in Hackney, visit the Hackney Local Offer site. You’ll find information about education, health and early help or social care support as well as other organisations that can support with specific needs. You can also find information about activities and opportunities specifically for young disabled people.

A dedicated website coordinator can also help you find the information you are looking for. Email localoffer@hackney.gov.uk.

Friends and relationships

If you’re looking to join a youth club, Young Hackney activities are inclusive and our centres are fully accessible. Please contact Young Hackney or your local youth hub to talk to staff about the support we can offer.

Support with work

Hackney’s 16-19 NEET Pathway Services

Hackney Council’s NEET Pathways support service is for Hackney young people aged 16-19. NEET is a term used to describe people who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training. The NEET Pathways Team welcome inquiries or self-referrals from young people or their parents and carers if their young person is NEET or at risk of becoming NEET. There is an enhanced SEND offer and the team sees young people with SEND aged 16 to 25 if they have an EHC Plan and who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET.

The NEET Pathways Team can help young people and their parents choose mainstream or Special School Sixth Form options, college courses, training courses, and Supported Internships, and work closely with the Hackney EHC Plan Team to ensure that young people receive an efficient, joined-up service.

If you would like to speak with the SEND Lead Adviser, please call Bryan Taylor on 07922 575603 or email bryan.taylor@hackney.gov.uk.

Supported Employment

Hackney Council’s Supported Employment Service helps Hackney residents with disabilities or health conditions to find work matched to their individual needs and interests.

What we offer

• A dedicated advisor to support you on your employment journey
• Help with CVs, job applications and interview coaching
• Support for employers to make adjustments to the interview process
• Help explaining your health condition to employers
• Support to make changes or adjustments in the workplace
• Help to keep your job and progress in your chosen career
• Access to in work support

Register here

For more information, please contact Naina Kent, Careers Advisor, at naina.kent@hackney.gov.uk, phoning 020 8820 7172 or texting 07775 018102.

Prospects/Shaw Trust

Prospects/Shaw provide independent impartial careers advice and guidance to young people aged 13 – 25 with an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in participating schools. Speak to your school’s SENCO if you need help with this. Contact jim.asbury@prospects.co.uk or phone 07554 436490 for information on if your school is eligible.

Scope

Scope, the disability charity, also offers several programmes to help young disabled people in London over the age of 16 with work. Support could include things like helping you write a CV, job applications, and interview practice, as well as support once you’re in work. All of these services are free of charge to access, and you can self-refer through their website.

These are the current programmes Scope currently offer:

Starting Line
Starting Line is a pre-employment training programme for disabled people at the start of their journey into work. Starting Line will support you to:

• Grow in confidence, assertiveness and independence
• Develop your interview skills
• Find volunteering, training or employment opportunities
• Talk about disability in the workplace

Training sessions will be:

• Up to 2 hours long
• Held 2 times a week for 7 weeks

Location: Scope Head Office, Here East, Olympic Park or online sessions
Website: www.scope.org.uk/starting-line
Contact: startingline@scope.org.uk

Career Pathways
Career Pathways is an independent careers advice service for disabled people aged 16-25. You will be offered up to 3 one-hour sessions with an advisor to:

• Make you aware of all the career options and employment routes open to you
• Develop your career goals and create an action plan to help you achieve them.

Location: Scope Head Office, Here East, Olympic Park or online sessions.
Website: www.scope.org.uk/career-pathways
Contact: careerpathways@scope.org.uk

Support to Work Extra

Support to Work Extra offers tailored employment support for disabled people.

You could be looking for your first job, or to get back into work, education, training, or volunteering. We will work together to help you achieve your goals.

Eligibility
Support to Work Extra is free and open to you, if you are:

• disabled or have an impairment or condition
• aged 16 and over
• live in England

Website: www.scope.org.uk/employment-services/support-to-work-extra

Useful websites

Visit the Hackney Local Offer site, where you will find information about statutory assessments, Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans; special schools and advice for families, and a list of activities for young people with disabilities;

---

Prospects have careers and employment guidance available to young people with disabilities. This support can be accessed via drop in sessions or alternatives can be arranged. For more information: hackneycareersserviceplus@prospects.co.uk or call 020 8356 2664