Aspirations

Aspirations is a life skills programme for people with autistic spectrum conditions, primarily those with Asperger's Syndrome.

Asperger's Syndrome is a recently recognised life-long disability. The majority of our learners are aged 16+, although we do support a few aged from 14. Aspirations supports between 40 and 44 learners each year.

People with Asperger's Syndrome can be highly intelligent but with low inter-personal skills, which causes great difficulty with social communication, relationships and flexibility. They perceive the world differently and lack the ability to pick-up the every-day rules of social interaction, and consequently fail to thrive in the formal school environment, at work and in social situations. Most are isolated, have suffered bullying and are often at risk of offending or being abused. This often leads to anxiety and depression.

Red2Green's Aspirations project helps people with autistic spectrum conditions to develop strategies to cope in every-day situations. It equips them with transferable skills and strategies for life in the community and for future employment. Learning is very tailored, as the difficulties posed by Aperger's Syndrome are unique and different to each individual. The learning activities are negotiated with the learners and broadly include:

• self understanding
• computing
• healthy living
• local studies
• people skills/key skills
• living in the community
• independent living skills
• work readiness skills
• the world of work (work placements and work experience are investigated for those people who would like a job).

Learning largely takes place in small groups of no more than eight clients, with the support of a tutor and teaching assistant. Learners attend in a variety of ways for up to four days a week, while others come as a day release from work or college where they are experiencing social difficulties; others do voluntary work as part of their week.

For our learners we will raise their insight, self-esteem, sense of well-being, of belonging, of feeling valued and useful through the experience of being understood and of community or work participation.

A recent stakeholder event found that, apart from our programme, there are no specialist ongoing support services for teenagers or adults with Asperger's Syndrome locally.

Provision for adults with autistic spectrum conditions

Our Development worker for people with Autism is looking at provision and raising awareness of the needs of people with autism.

For more information, and to contact the development officer, follow this link.

Learners' achievements

The achievements of our Aspirations' learners are fantastic. For example, of the learners enrolled on our Aspirations project last year, 24 achieved NVQs in IT and all achieved qualifications in either local history or independent living skills.

While learners do not come to Aspirations with the primary objective of achieving qualifications, Red2Green encourages them to evidence their personal development this way - it helps boost their self esteem as well as building up a portfolio to show to employers and further education providers.

Learners can be referred onto the programme by families, social workers, community psychiatric nurses, psychologists, group homes, Connexions personal advisors, the National Autistic Society, and by other programmes, as part of a progression route for individuals.

For more information on the Aspirations programme, or to find out about enrolling, email us using this link or call us at 01223 811662.

Researching local history

As part of their studies, Aspirations' learners have undertaken a number of local history projects in recent years. This gives them opportunity to:

• find out more about what has shaped the community around them;
• take part in community visits, enhancing their community integration;
• enhance their team working skills as they conduct research on the internet, in libraries and from other resources;
• develop their IT skills while writing up their findings, making posters and PowerPoint presentations.

For more about two of the projects, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, click on the links below.

More information about Aspirations' Town and Gown project.

More information about Aspirations' Researching Harvey's Barn and Swaffham Bulbeck project.