Becoming an adult

Your Life, Your Future
This is a fun guide to help you plan what you would like for your future. Click here (461k pdf) to download it.

After 16, What’s New
This is a guide for all young disabled people aged 14+ It has sections on:

• Getting your views across
• Money
• Learning choices, work and other daytime activities
• Housing
• Transport, leisure and holidays
• Health, friends and relationships
• The Law

Skill
(National Bureau for Students with Disabilities): Skill gives information and advice to disabled students on education, volunteering, training, and employment. The Skill telephone information service is open Monday to Friday, 1.30pm - 4.30pm on 0800 328 5050 (voice) or 0800 068 2422 (text). A lot of information is also available on the Skill website, click the link below.

JobcentrePlus
Offers help to enable disabled people to get a job. They employ Disability Employment Advisers who know a lot about the schemes which can support disabled people to get a job, and how to get money towards equipment etc. Jobcentre Plus staff can also tell you how getting a job may affect your benefits. You can find out where your local Jobcentre Plus is located by telephoning (0191) 5544800 or click on the logo to go to the national website..

Your guide to getting a job
Mencap have produced a guide for young people who would like to get a job. To download a copy click here (1.3 mb pdf).

The Princes Trust
Offer practical support, training, mentoring and financial assistance to young people aged 14-30, to help them succeed and transform their lives. The types of programmes they offer include working on a community project; a 6 day residential music course; financial support to get into work, training or education; and support to set up your own business. For more information click here or contact:

The Prince's Trust - North East Region, Tynegate Business Centre, 5th Floor, Aidan House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 3HU
Tel: (0191) 4788488
Fax: (0191) 4788487

Sunderland Youth Development Group & City Equals
The Youth Development Group’s Inclusion Project provides citywide Youth Provision for young people 13-19 years of age who have physical and/or learning disabilities. The Youth Clubs run sessions on various nights during the week, while two clubs also run Saturday morning sessions. Club members are offered a wide range of activities and are actively encouraged to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

During school holidays, in partnership with the Children with Disabilities Team (Social Services) and Connexions, the Inclusion Project runs a ‘Positive Activities for Young People’ programme. This involves activity days and residential experiences, giving disabled young people opportunities to extend their horizons and interests within a safe environment.

City Equals
Sunderland Youth Development Group is committed to working with disabled young people to ensure their active involvement in decisions that affect their lives. One of the ways this is achieved is through City Equals. ‘City Equals’ is a small group of young disabled people who advocate for other young people, enabling their voice to be heard, understood and responded to within the wider community, by linking into Sunderland Youth Parliament.

Youth clubs in the city.

These clubs are open to young people aged 13-19years.

These clubs are open to young people aged 19-25 years.

For more information or to get involved with any of the youth clubs or with City Equals please contact:

Deborah Atkinson
Inclusion Co-ordinator telephone (0191) 553 7838
e-mail: Deborah.Atkinson@edcom.sunderland.gov.uk

Trans-Active
Trans-Active is a website for young disabled people with information about ‘Transition’. Transition is when you grow up and become an adult. At this time, lots of things begin to change, like what you do through the day, people who work with you, things you are allowed to do and places you are allowed to go. This website helps you to understand these changes, and to make plans so that you are in control of what is happening. For more information visit the website by clicking here http://www.trans-active.org.uk/teenz/index.htm

Your right to vote.

Once you are 18 you have a right to vote in elections.  For information about voting and how to do it, click here for an accessible website http://www.drc-gb.org/easyread/votingrights/index.asp

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