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Education, employment and training

After Year 11, we will help you take the next step that's right for you, whether that’s education, training or a job.
You can get support with education, training or employment until your 25th birthday (or until the course you are undertaking on your 25th birthday is finished).

Leaving school is an exciting step. Here you’ll find information about your next options and the services in Tameside that can support you with education, training and work.

Your options may include:

  • staying in full-time education (or part time if you’re a parent or have caring responsibilities)
  • starting an apprenticeship or internship
  • working in a full or part-time job alongside education or training (including training provided by your employer)
  • volunteering to build experience and confidence
  • joining the armed forces

We’ll make sure you know about all the help available to you and support you to access it, so you can make the most of every opportunity. For example, if you want to start or continue leaning or working and you have a child, you can get childcare support through the Care to Learn Fund or Free Childcare for Working Parents Offer.

 

Tameside’s Virtual School Team
The Virtual School offers specialist knowledge and advice to help care leavers explore and progress in education, training and work. They can make sure your voice is heard when decisions are being made. Your Social Worker and/or Personal Advisor can help you get in touch with the Virtual Schools Team.

 

Tameside Futures
Tameside Futures helps young people aged 16-24 years old not in education, employment or training to explore their options. You can also access support if you’re in education, employment or training but the option you’ve chosen isn’t right for you.

Tameside Futures runs a Young Person’s Drop-in every Wednesday, 1pm till 4pm at The People Place, Ashton Library, Tameside One, Market Ground, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6BH. This is a relaxed space to chat about work, careers, training or anything else you need. The Tameside Futures team and qualified Careers Advisors will be on hand in a relaxed area where you can get drinks and snacks and meet organisations who come along to talk to everyone there about benefits, health, money and support.

You can contact the team by calling 0161 342 3111, emailing tamesidefutures@tameside.gov.uk or by filling in the form here.

 

The Leaving Care Service and Your Personal Advisor
We can help you pay for travel to get to your education, training or work. We can also pay for your Bee Network Tavel Pass if you need it for education, training or work.

 

College, apprenticeships, university (undergraduate and postgraduate)
Your Personal Adviser can help you get money for education and training. This includes the further education – educational maintenance bursary if you stay in education after Year 11, £3000 if you start an eligible apprenticeship, £2,000 if you go to university, and Student Finance to help pay for things like food, rent and course costs at university or college. They can also help you get a laptop, pay for your cap and gown (if not free access) when you graduate and pay for your travel for up to 3 universities when you are deciding where to go.

If you are going to university, your Personal Advisor can help you get accommodation support for up to three years (or four years in certain situations). This will be set at the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate where you live and study. You can check the LHA rates here.

We know that some University courses last more than three years. Our support for your accommodation is available for a maximum of four academic years. After your four years is up, you will need to use your student maintenance loan – which is available to everybody – to cover your rent and living costs. If your course is longer than three years, your Personal Adviser will work with you to plan how you can support yourself.

 

Work
If you decide to look for a job, we can pay for your interview travel costs. You can also get up to £75 to spend on smart clothing for interviews or work.

 

Volunteering
Your Personal Advisor can help you find volunteering roles and get a Leaving Care Maintenance Allowance, this includes £40 per week for full-time volunteering or £20 per week for part-time volunteering up to a maximum of £1,200 / £600 a year. You can get this up to the end of the school year after your 18th birthday.

 

Youth Employment Scheme (YES) 
There are so many young people in Tameside who are enthusiastic and willing to learn but have not been given the chance to enter employment because they have no experience, few skills or cannot secure an interview. Tameside Council created Tameside YES to give Tameside young people a chance by supporting local residents aged 16-24 years of age and not in employment, education or training to access employment opportunities.

Tameside YES offers a minimum of 4 months paid employment with local businesses. Businesses offer both apprenticeship and non-apprenticeship vacancies to the scheme. This service provides you with experience of the world of work and in many cases the opportunity to continue into permanent employment.

If you would like to find out more, contact Tameside Futures you can call 0161 342 3111 or send a message on WhatsApp to 07970 753953 or you can fill in the Tameside Futures form here.

 

St John’s Ambulance
If you are aged 14-18 and in care or a care leaver (including if you are a separated migrant or have a disability), you can become an NHS Cadet through St Johns Ambulance. This gives you the chance to;

  • build confidence
  • learn new skills, including leadership and communication
  • be part of your community and meet new people
  • make a real difference to others

Find out more about becoming an NHS Cadet through St Johns Ambulance here.

 

Useful links to help with money and education

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