BRANCHING OUT
This project, delivered by Borders Additional Needs Group, forms a Transitional Youth programme for 16 -25 year old young people with an Additional Support Need including Autism and/or Learning Disability.
This transitional youth programme works alongside a pre youth provision called Branching In.
OPPORTUNITIES
​
All our attendees benefit from social engagement, peer-to-peer support, additional resources to access youth qualifications, employment, and volunteering. We create a Young Person's Record to track their goals, strengths, and more person-centered information. This is then used as a transitional resource tool, recording their achievements, training, volunteering, and life skills as they work towards the transition into adulthood.
TRANSITIONS​
Our project is always adapting to suit the needs of our young people. As our young adults transition from school, to college and eventually into the workforce, they need extra support to navigate and gain qualifications and life skills. We're linking with local organisations such as Borders College, Works+ and Jacksons' Farm Jedburgh to ensure our young people have access to accredited courses and equal opportunities.
WE'RE FILM MAKERS!
My Superpower and Me is a film about Autism from Autistic Young people’s point of view, produced and filmed by autistic participants from our Branching Out Youth Project.
Thanks to additional funding from Shared Care Scotland and the support of Alchemy Film & Arts, Branching Out youths were able to create a short film about what it's like to live with autism: their challenges; their superpowers; their lives. They explore their own autistic experience by talking to professionals who work with autistic people, their peers and each other.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
The benefits of the great outdoors cannot be understated! Our young people tell us what they would like to do, and we do it!
We know taking part in activities can help to develop a young person's:
​
Team Building skills
Commuication skills
Frienship formation
Problem solving skills
Resilience
Leading and supporting
Self confidence
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
The benefits of the great outdoors cannot be understated! Our young people tell us what they would like to do, and we do it!
We know taking part in activities can help to develop a young person's:
-
Team Building skills
-
Commuication skills
-
Frienship formation
-
Problem solving skills
-
Resilience
-
Leading and supporting
-
Self confidence
YOUNG PERSON'S VOICE
Young people will form a sub group in collaboration with Branching In to support the Board of Trustees to design future support and empower members to be involved in charity decision making.
In addition to this, young people will form an ASN Youth Steering Group to engage with stakeholders on consultations and create a focus group on services that engage with ASN. This work has been piloted with Skills development Scotland, SOSE ASN learning Network and SBC Autism Strategy Group.
YOUTH ENTERPRISE SCOTLAND TEAM PROGRAMME
We are proud to launch our latest project in collaboration with Youth Enterprise Scotland. Designed to aid young people’s transition from education into independent living and employment, the Team Programme develops confidence and life skills through working as a team to set up and run an enterprise.
BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Participants interact with adults and grow in confidence as they run their own company. They make all the decisions about their enterprise, from deciding on the name and product to selling to the public with pop up shops. They gain self-awareness to recognise personal strengths, preferences, areas for personal development and what can be offered to future employers.
Team Programme is a year-long enterprise journey for students over the age of 16 who have mild to moderate learning difficulties. There are no entry requirements for the programme. Resources have been designed to be flexible and meet a range of abilities and needs.
The Team Programme has an optional SCQF Level 3 qualification worth 15 credit points, accredited by Glasgow Kelvin College, attached to the programme. Look out for new BANG businesses!
HAVE YOU TRIED OUR AUTISM TOOLKIT?
The toolkit contains case studies offering examples of inclusive youth work practice within youth clubs in the Scottish Borders; and features some films created by the Branching Out Youth Project.
​
The kit, created with Wakelet, was developed for youth workers by youth workers, with each resource within the toolkit being peer reviewed and recommended by youth work practitioners.
The pages will be regularly updated with new content and training offered throughout the year to support learning.
