Buddys Training Programme

We have been providing work experience for people with learning disabilities and/ or autism since 2008, focusing on supporting our students to learn skills that will help on their journey to employment, the voluntary sector, further education and/or to gain and improve life and daily skills. The training is predominantly provided in our Buddys community coffee shop.

The accessible training placements, in partnership with West Sussex County Council, are 6-months in duration (1 day per week), during which time students work towards achieving a set of core competencies and objectives as well as personal objectives subject to what they would like to achieve from the training and capability. These include customer service, teamwork/ building, food and hot drink preparation, front of house skills and health and safety as well as completing the level 2 Food Hygiene Award (if appropriate), which is a nationally recognised training certificate.

At the end of the 6-month placement, our students gain a Certificate of Completion which demonstrates that they have achieved transferable skills that can, hopefully, lead them to gain either paid employment or voluntary work in various sectors, go on to further education or live more independently.

Our Aims

An aim of our training programme is to give our students the skills (practical and interpersonal) and belief to progress into paid employment, a voluntary role, further education or to live more independently.

One aim of the Buddys training programme is to demonstrate that people with a learning disability and/ or autism make great employees and/or volunteers and help to break down the barriers preventing them from accessing and staying in the workplace.

People with a learning disability and/ or autism can make a valuable contribution to the workplace and local community, when supported properly and we want to support our students to learn and develop their skills, enabling them to reach their full potential.

We want people with a learning disability and/ or autism to have the opportunity to experience the benefits that paid employment, volunteering and being part of the community can bring. These include an increased income, improved wellbeing, and greater confidence.

Through practical training, our programme will also provide the student with more independence, through learning day to day life skills, more choice and social inclusion. For some students, this will be their primary aim/ desired outcome.

Eligibility Criteria

• Live in West Sussex
• 19 years old or over (no upper age limit)
• Have a learning disability and/ or autism
• Keen to progress into one (or more) of the following: o Paid employment o The voluntary sector o Further education o Gain/ improve independent life and daily skills o Improve health and wellbeing
• Willingness to engage and learn

Enquiries and applications

To request an application form or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via: lorna.smith@worthingmencap.org or buddys@worthingmencap.org