Training and Employment

Your physical and learning disabilities need not prevent you finding a rewarding career. There are organisations that can help you to find training and employment opportunities.

The Government has recently introduced a Health Adjustment Passport. This is a form that you can use to support you to identify what help and changes are available to move into work or stay in a job.

National organisations

• You can get help and advice from the Disability Employment Adviser at your Job Centre Plus.
  
  
• GOV.UK has information about support, programmes and grants to help you find work if you are disabled. Programmes include Access to Work and Specialist Empoyability Support.
  
  
• Mencap offers support if you are a person with a learning disability looking for work.
  
  
• The Princes Trust offers support to all young people, aged 18 to 30, wanting to start a business.
  
  
• Leonard Cheshire's Change 100 programme matches talented students and recent graduates, who have disabilities or long-term conditions, with progressive employers for summer work placements, development and mentoring.
  
  
• Mutually Inclusive has a number of resources, including Easy Read guides, aimed at supporting people with learning disabilities to explore entrepreneurship and self-employment.
  
  
• The RNIB has information to help you with education and learning as well as employment.
  
  
• Learndirect  has details of hundreds of online courses that can be undertaken at a time or place to suit your needs.
  
  
• FutureLearn have many online courses, including How to succeed at interviews
  
  
• Disability Rights UK has information covering all aspects of employment for disabled people.

Local organisations

• Enham Trust  offers a wide range of services for people with disabilities, including learning programmes and employment opportunities.
  
  
• Yateley Industries  provides supported training and employment for people with disabilities. 
  
  
• The Stable Family Home Trust  runs a personal development programme which aims to help adults with learning disabilities to gain skills.
  
  Go to our Community directory to find listings for more organisations in Hampshire offering employment support. 

Hampshire Futures is Hampshire County Council's apprenticeship training provider, supporting young people and adults in Hampshire to successfully take part in education, training and employment.

As a nationally approved employer training provider, on the Government’s national register of approved training providers, Hampshire Futures plays a key role in the delivery of high-quality apprenticeships across all the County Council’s departments, as well as Hampshire’s maintained schools.

Volunteering makes a positive impact in your community but it can also have many benefits for you. Volunteering can enable you to learn new skills. You can meet new people and gain valuable experience that you can take into your future career. It also gives you the chance to find out which types of work interest you or try something completely different.
Here are some ideas for volunteering opportunities in Hampshire.

See our Volunteering opportunities page for more information.

The use of specialist equipment can make it easier for disabled people to use a computer for work or educational activities. The Disabled Living Foundation’s website Living Made Easy  has information about computers and other equipment to assist you. Click on 'Communicating' on the top menu.

AbilityNetis a national charity which helps disabled people to use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. They also have a set of guides My Computer My Way  for setting up adapted modes (such as text to speech, large print and switch access).

Everyone Can provides free and impartial advice and support on technology for disabled people.
Some equipment may qualify for VAT relief . The supplier will be able to tell you.

Hampshire Superfast Broadband - If your property is not included in the current superfast broadband programme and you can only access a speed of 2Mbps or less, there is a government scheme in place to help you access better broadband.

Council jobs in Hampshire
Jobs in education in Hampshire  
Apprenticeships  
National Careers Service