Care and Support section

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Home: Community full menu: Care and support: Guide for disabled people

Education, training, volunteering, employment

Gateway to care - September 2011
gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk

Access to Work

Access to Work aims to remove the practical barriers that people with disabilities face in work. This will allow them to enjoy the same career opportunities as their colleagues. Access to Work can offer help in various ways, including:
  • a communicator (for example, a BSL interpreter at interviews)
  • a support worker (for example, a reader for people with sight difficulties)
  • special aids and equipment in the workplace
  • grants for travel to work (for example, to cover the cost of taxi fares)
  • adaptations to buildings and equipment at work (for example, help toward the cost of making them accessible).
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Careers for children and young people up to 19 years old

For help with careers please contact your school or:
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Careers 4 Adults

Careers 4 Adults is the service for adults who are 18 years and over from Calderdale and Kirklees Careers.

They provide support for adults in:
  • finding out information about different jobs and careers
  • finding out about transferable skills to help consider different jobs and careers that would suit someone's interests as well as previous experience and training
  • providing access to information from local and regional newspapers, council and NHS vacancy bulletins for job searching
  • access to computers for preparing CVs and letters
Connexions centres: Website:
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Connexions

Connexions is a service providing support for all 13 to 19-year olds (and up to 24 years old if you have a learning disability). It's about helping you to navigate your way through decisions about education and careers. It's also about helping if you have problems with drugs, alcohol, finance, health, relationships and other issues.

But it's not just about problems - it's also about making the most of your leisure time in a productive and exciting way. This could be through volunteering, drama or community based activities. Or it could be out with friends and having a good time!

Connexions centres: Website:
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Education access

Kirklees Education Access Services provide services for:

  • Free school meals

  • Bus passes

  • Customer care

    We are responsible for customer care to children and young people, and adults responsible for them and we aim to provide services that are fair, efficient, effective and responsive to their needs. We are always prepared to respond to your comments, complaints and compliments.

  • Education Social Work Service

    A social work service for families of school-age children whose education is at risk and give advice to schools about the education welfare needs of young people.

  • Child employment or children in entertainment

  • Student support – including Disabled Students Allowance

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Expert Patients Programme

The Expert Patients Programme is for anyone with a long-term health condition or illness, or who is caring for someone, who wishes to learn skills for controlling and improving their health. The courses are held locally and are tailored to the needs of the people who attend.
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Jobcentre Plus

Your local Jobcentre Plus office can provide you with a wide range of information on jobs, training and self employment. Most jobseekers with disabilities who find work through Jobcentre Plus are helped by a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA).

Your Disability Employment Adviser can offer you:
  • an employment assessment to identify what type of work or training suits you best
  • a referral to other people that can help you
  • a job-matching and referral service - they can let you know about jobs that match your experience and skills
  • information on employers in your area who have adopted the 'two ticks' disability symbol.
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Leaving care

When a young adult leaves care at any time after their sixteenth birthday they are entitled to help from the Children and Young People Service Leaving Care Team until at least their twenty-first birthday.
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Volunteering in Kirklees

Are you looking for something to do with your spare time? Are you interested in doing something positive for you and the community, and being able to have fun and enjoy yourself at the same time? If so, volunteering has lots to offer.
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Worklink

Worklink is an employment service of Kirklees Council which supports anyone with a disability or long-term illness, looking for employment, training or work experience. It may be a physical, sensory or communication disability, a learning disability, or a mental health problem.
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