Looking To The Future Of Learning Disability Support In Liverpool With The Launch Of New Specialist Service
Young adults with learning disabilities have a new centre for learning in Walton, Liverpool, with the launch of the Futures service by Embrace Group.
Futures, which opened earlier this year, provides opportunities for educational and personal development to young adults with learning disabilities between the ages of 19 and 25. The service will offer expert education, skills and social programmes for individuals requiring high levels of care and support, including those with severe learning difficulties and complex needs, autism, mental and physical disability and behavioural issues.
The person-centred programme model at Futures will reflect the four key outcomes of the Government’s ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ programme. This education model focuses on independent living, community inclusion, employment and health. Courses will be tailored to the needs of individuals to provide the best pathway of learning, and the courses will be facilitated by qualified teaching staff and accredited by recognised, national awarding bodies, including AQA and ASDAN.
With an outcomes focused programme of learning, the aim of the service is to have a profound and positive impact on the lives of students in their formative years, by promoting personal development and independence.
Futures occupies a newly refurbished, secure and segregated area of the Rice Lane site. The high quality space is an ideal size, is flexible, modern and attractive. It is well resourced, with a particularly strong IT element which could become the backbone of the programme delivery.
It is hoped the service will grow, continuing to provide an excellent standard of provision and potentially extend its offer to include further education and employment-based training for learning disabled adults.
Although the service has only just launched, there are already exciting plans for its future. This includes setting up an onsite café, which will be operated by students.
Mike Smyth, Head of Futures, said:
“We are delighted to have launched Futures. We aim to empower people to make their own choices about how they live their lives, and we are looking forward to embedding in the local community as a resource for all those who need the service.
“Futures will be outcomes focused, and we are fundamentally looking to provide the highest quality care and support to young adults with learning disabilities, that will help them achieve their fullest ambitions.
“I am excited to have in place such a dedicated and experienced team, who will be providing the highest quality person-centred support for Futures’ students.”
