| The Inclusion Revolution starts in Burgess Hil |
| Home to the UK’s finest (and newest) Special Educational Needs College, we have an obligation to shift the dial in Mid Sussex, creating viable work opportunities for the young people leaving the college and embarking on their life journeys. Shocking Statistics Across the UK the percentage of young people who find employment after leaving a SEND college is just 4.8%… that is an appalling statistic that the government is now addressing with a raft of initiatives now set in place. However, West Sussex lags far below the national average; only 2% of young people leaving SEND colleges locally will, at the time of writing, find employment. So in a leaving class of 50 students at Woodlands Meed College…just one of them finds a job. One in 50 I want that to sink in.  Adam Rowland, headmaster of Woodlands Meed explained their ethos, developing employability skills from the very outset. |
The school has successfully trialled a well-resourced Supported Internship programme, with hands on assistance on a daily basis from their Supported Internships Lead; David Hills. PVL have been the first to become part of this scheme. David Hills has also met with other local businesses.  Adam Rowland Head  Nola Bennett Deputy Head  David Hills Meeds Job Club |
| He’s been specifically visiting sites on Victoria Business Park, where he is hoping to place 10 students in 2025, ideally with a pair at each site, so they can buddy up with each other for mutual support. If they are all located close by that means he can provide very hands on assistance. The interns are in the role within the firm for three days of the week, with the other two days back at school. They remain enrolled at the college during this time, this is not an apprenticeship per se, it is however a way for them to be gently and expertly transitioned into your workforce. If you are located on the Victoria Business Park, we want to hear from you now. But let’s hear also from other clusters of businesses across Mid Sussex as we look to expand this programme. Find out more: dhills@woodlandsmeed.co.uk  Everything on offer was made by students, they run their own little school enterprise, which itself makes a profit: Inspire Café The Inspire Café team behind this fabulous breakfast spread were ready to serve our guests at 8.30 sharp with fresh crepes made to order. For safeguarding reasons we can’t show them here, but they were all very engaging with their customers. The egg slices, akin to a mini frittata, were very moreish, I had several! |
| Patrick, a Supported Intern currently working at PVL, then stepped up to explain more about the tasks he has been introduced to at PVL. It was evident to all that he’s clearly enjoying the experience. As it happens Patrick was in the cutting room at our recent site tour of PVL’s factory last month. He was at the controls of an expensive piece of computer guided cutting equipment. I reminded him of how he saved me from serious injury that morning. In my engrossed fascination with the machine I had stepped inside the marked warning perimeter of the machine, just as it was about to zoom into position for it’s next cut. Patrick’s intervention was polite but importantly, very timely. I thanked him for that, he reiterated how safety is very important on the factory floor. Also that morning I noticed how well integrated he already was with the rest of his PVL team, who themselves exuded a pride in working alongside him. |
| Please reach out to David Hills to find out more about the intensive support that is provided to make sure that placements are successful. There are numerous other ways in which you can engage with this programme. |
| David Hills dhills@woodlandsmeed.co.uk |