How we can help Training Our TSS team support young people on their journey through education and training Posted 10.06.2021 Our Training Support Services (TSS) team works closely with all colleges, training organisations and the Careers Service across Northern Ireland to support over 600 trainees on the Training for Success (TfS) and Apprenticeship NI training. The team of 14 Employment and Training Officers (ETO) support young disabled people aged 16-22 years on their journey through education and training to achieve their goals. The ETOs provide personal support and mentoring, employer awareness, visits and parental advice and support to young people and their families. In this blog we are introducing our experienced and understanding Training Support Services team who provide quality support to young people and their families. Read more about the Training Support Service we provide Posted 11.08.2021 Employment & Training Officer Brenda McAninley has been providing support to disabled trainees and trainees with ‘Specific Learning Difficulty’ (SpLD) on the Training for Success Programme for over 10 years. My role is to enhance trainees’ numeracy, literacy and communication so that they can increase their skill set and gain qualifications that employers recognise and value. I qualified as a psychology teacher and have a MSc in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Currently Brenda provides this support at Coalisland Training Services and South West College Dungannon. I am very committed to supporting trainees overcome barriers to learning and realising their potential. If you are in education or training at either of the above organisations and need some support contact Brenda T. 07718 977053 E: [email protected]. Posted 04.08.2021 Employment & Training Officer Ann Maria Curran provides Learning Support and Training Support within the Training for Success (TfS) programme and has been with Disability Action for almost 13 years. Ann Maria tells us: It is great to be able to help young people overcome their fears and barriers within learning and progress within their chosen career. Ann Maria works in the County Fermanagh area engaging with Rutledge, Enniskillen and South West College Enniskillen Campus to support students. Seeing young people become the best they can be and reach their full potential is very rewarding. If you are in education or training in the Fermanagh area and need support contact Ann Maria T: 07951 601994, E: [email protected]. Posted 28.07.2021 Employment & Training Officer Declan McColgan has been working with education and training organisations mainly in the North West to provide quality support to young people and their families. Declan says: I love assisting students on their journeys and helping them blossom; inspiring and motivating them to optimize and fulfil their potential. Declan has been part of the Disability Action team for two years, working on the Training Support Services team as well as the Workable NI team. If you need some support in your education and training give Declan a call or email him M: 07442 490927 E: [email protected]. Posted 21.07.2021 Anne McCrory has been an Employment & Training Officer with Disability Action since November 2016 and currently provides training support to trainees at SERC and Rutledge in Downpatrick and a combination of training and learning support to trainees at People 1st in Lisburn. She also provides additional learning support to trainees at Workforce in Belfast. Anne tells us: What I love most about my job is working with young people, helping them to build their confidence and motivating them to achieve their goals. If you are in training at any of the above Training Organisations and need some support contact Anne T: 07767 112290 E: [email protected] Posted 06.07.2021 Through Training for Success, Employment and Training Officer Sinead Kerton has supported many students with disabilities through their training journey over the last 8 years. Sinead covers the Newry and Mourne area and is directly involved with People First Newry and Clanrye Group based in Slieve Gullion. Sinead says: There are no typical days; Every day is different and brings its own challenges. Sinead provides a range of support from disability adjustments required for an individual’s needs, education on disabilities, personal development issues, and listening and providing advice, to goal setting, building up confidence and self-esteem, and planning for the future. I am privileged to be in the position to get to know the students, listen to their concerns and see them grow and develop through their training. If you are in education or training in the Newry and Mourne area and need support contact Sinead T: 07519 122212 E: [email protected] Posted 29.06.2021 Louise McGarrity, an Employment & Training Officer on the Training for Success (TfS) programme, has been part of the Disability Action team for 24 years. In her role Louise supports trainees aged 16-22 years and their families on their journey through training by providing 1-1 support, family support, help with benefits, placement support, classroom-based support, liaison with tutors, monitoring officers and providers. Louise says: I enjoy working with the trainees and families assisting with support needs from pre-entry to exit work; building relationships with the young people and families is very rewarding. Helping with options after training can be challenging as not all trainees will be job ready. However, finding suitable options and paid work for those ready to move to employment gives me great satisfaction. Sharon and Dwain Gervin, the parents of Sean who Louise has been supporting emailed to say: Just wanted to thank you all for the difference you and your team have made not only to Sean but our home life as well. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Louise is based in our Dungannon office and supports young people at South West College Dungannon, Coalisland Training Services, Southern Regional College in Armagh (Catering group) and Portadown and Clanyre Group in Portadown/Lurgan area. If you need support with your education and training contact Louise T: 07718 977054 or E: [email protected] Posted 23.06.2021 Leanne Mackle, Employment and Training Officer, works with young people in training at People 1st in Portadown and Lurgan, Hair Academy in Portadown, SRC in Armagh and SWC in Enniskillen. Over the last 4 years Leanne has been helping young people, aged 16-22 on the Training for Success or Apprenticeship NI programme, to achieve their goals by supporting and encouraging them every step of the way through their training. Leanne says: I love working with employers and Training Organisations to come up with new reasonable adjustments to make paid work more achievable for trainees with additional needs. Leanne also engages with their families, providing reassurance about progress, benefits and support available.If you are in training at any of the above education and training colleges and need some support contact Leanne T: 07966 232686, E: [email protected]. Posted 16.06.2021 With almost 20 years’ experience in the field of youth training as a tutor, Sinead Boyd has worked as an Employment and Training Officer with Disability Action for the last three years. In her role Sinead supports students and their families in a range of training settings including SERC Newtownards and Bangor, SRC Greenbank, Impact Training in Belfast, The Academy Hair and Beauty School in Newry. Sinead tells us: Being able to help students make the transition from school to college is one of the best parts of my job. I love seeing the students thrive and grow in confidence in the new college or training environment with the additional support they receive. Making the move from the security of secondary school to a large college can be daunting, but with our pre-entry support service, we can help get all the information needed before the student starts their classes and help them deal with issues quickly and easily. I love being able to help solve student queries and make their college life easier. If you plan to go to, or are studying at, any of the above education and training colleges and need some support contact Sinead T: 07951 601998 or E: [email protected]. Posted 09.06.2021 Firstly we would like to introduce Lisa McVeigh who has worked in the Training Support Services team for 17 years and was recently appointed as temporary TSS Team Manager. Lisa leads and manages a team of 14 Employment and Training Officers across Northern Ireland who support disabled people on the Training for Success (TfS) and Apprenticeship NI training delivered in colleges and training providers throughout the province. Lisa and her team provide personal support and mentoring, employer awareness, visits and parental advice and support to young people and their families. She says: The thing I love most about my job is seeing participants achieving their aspirations; I love seeing individuals having self-fulfilment, growing in confidence and feeling valued. If you would like to know more about the support the Training Support Services team can provide give Lisa a call T. 07967 737470 or email her [email protected]