Oliver, our Travel with Confidence Project Worker, recently provided training to different services. In his words, here’s how it went.
Lighthouse Futures Trust (I did a supported Internship there) supports young neurodivergent people aged 16–25 to develop the skills, confidence and independence they need to move towards sustainable paid employment. For Lighthouse, we went to their main base at Carlton House in Headingley.
Purple Patch Arts work with learning-disabled people of all ages and support needs in a holistic way that supports its members. This was hosted in Horsforth.
The training was designed to be as inclusive as possible, with easy read pictures and resources.
What we did in the training
One of the most important things of the day was getting across the importance of helping young people feel safer and more confident when they are out and about, especially when using public transport, such as Buses!
The training was not just about reading out the information on the presentation. It was about talking through mock real-life situations, thinking about what could happen, and helping people make the safe choices that feel right for them whilst traveling alone or with other people.
It’s great when people with disabilities were able to come together and learn.
Achievement
The different scenarios and activities and scenarios gave a chance for people to practice communication, problem-solving and decision-making. Rather than just talking about the topics, we also let the people join in and try out them too!
Some were quick to give answers, and some took a little more time. But both were valued and all the participants had a chance to contribute something important.
The Pre-Interns and Purple Patch members both showed great potential throughout the training. They thought carefully about things like how to plan a journey, stay aware of their surroundings, know who to ask for help if they need it, and what to do if something does not go to plan. It was brilliant to see everyone sharing their own ideas and supporting the other people in the room.
Why work like this is important
Opportunities like this matter because they help young people and people with learning disabilities to build practical skills in a safe, welcoming and encouraging environment. They also remind us that confidence often takes time to build up in small steps: answering a question, trying a new activity, working with someone different, or realising that their opinion matters.
A big thank you
A big thank you to everyone at Lighthouse Futures Trust, the Pre-Interns, and Purple Patch members and staff for making the session so welcoming and engaging. It was a privilege to spend time with both groups!
I hope the participants took away something useful. Whether that was a new skill, something they didn’t already know, a bit more confidence, or simply the reminder that everything will be ok.
