Disabled people are almost twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people and only 5.1% of adults with a learning disability are in paid work.

Disabled young people share the same aspirations as other young people but struggle to access mainstream careers support and often leave school with few work skills and limited knowledge about their options or the support they are entitled to.

Youth unemployment can significantly impact on young people's life chances when they reach adulthood, and means they miss out on the benefits of improved health, better social inclusion and greater independence that come with having a job.

Our Amazing Futures Careers service provides tailored support, so whether they receive one to one support, join our volunteering programme or attend an activity or workshop, disabled young people can improve their knowledge, build their confidence and skills and achieve their goals.

Key to our success is the involvement of young people aged 18-25, either as paid interns or volunteers, who work alongside staff to plan and deliver activities and ensure we can meet a wide range of support needs.

Last year we supported over 100 young people, and demand for our service is higher than ever as disabled young people struggle with the additional pressures caused by Covid and the cost of living crisis, including increased mental ill health and anxiety.

Young people like Tom who came to us as he was about to be kicked off his college course, with poor mental health, no clear goals for the future and struggling to accept his diagnosis. Our Project Coordinator worked with Tom to look at his options, including why the course was not appropriate for him, and talk through his support needs, using her own lived experience to help engage him. After several months working with us, Tom felt more optimistic and was happy for us to support him to get work experience, which led to him successfully applying for a job.

We know everyone is financially stretched right now, but even a small gift could help:

£5 could provide art materials for a young person taking part in a creative activity aimed at inspiring them to think about different careers

£10 could provide a young person with accessible careers information

£25 could fund refreshments for a job skills training session

£50 could fund a one to one session to help a young person explore their skills and interests and make a plan for their future.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, please help us make a lasting difference to more disabled young people, and set them up for a brighter future.