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Student ‘Thrive and Survive’ Guide
Starting university is an exciting experience, but it can also bring its own unique challenges. It’s natural to feel nervous or overwhelmed during the first few weeks at university, and it can be a while before you feel like you’ve found your feet. At times you may need some ideas, information or advice to consider the most helpful ways of approaching any challenges you may encounter. It is expected and normal that challenges arise when transitioning from one part of life to another, but everyone is different and will experience situations differently and consequently respond to different information/advice/support differently. This resources was created to help you and your peers address some important things. Sometimes knowing what to expect and getting some tips on what to do can go a long way to helping a person find their own way. The Thrive and Survive Guide is here to provide a single source that you can reach for when you need that information or could use some tips.
Online Courses
Learn Direct are offering courses to help young people learn how to
- Keep safe in your home
- Plan and prepare to cook a meal for your friends
- Engage with your community
- Fit everything in to your hectic life
- Complete complicated forms
Open Learn have released hundred’s of free courses.
Range of free tools, tips and interactive resources are constantly updated to help you recognise and develop the skills you have. We can help you build confidence, boost your employability and stand out from the competition.
Get Ready for Adult Life
This large workbook has been put together to give young people information and advice to help prepare them for adult life. It covers 10 areas of life skills including Money, Education, Family/Relationships, Accommodation, Looking After Yourself, Having Your Say, Legal Rights, Being in Care, and Life Skills
There is useful information on The Local Offer, click on the links below:
Preparing For Adulthood:
All young people face big changes when they leave school. But for some people with learning disabilities, their physical or emotional needs can make moving into adulthood more challenging. There’s information on these pages to help young people with SEND achieve employment, independent living, good health, friendships and community inclusion.
Further Education: There are a number of learning options for post-16, which offer a range of courses and job related skills. They can offer support to meet the needs of students of all abilities. This support can include specialist teaching support, personal helpers, lifts/ramps or specialist equipment.
Employment and Training: All young people should continue in education or training until they are 18. If your young person is looking to move into employment rather than further education, they might benefit from work skills training or support to enter the world of work.
Caring for your health into adulthood: Moving from children’s health services to adult health services is a gradual process. It usually starts from around 13-14 years old, and should be complete by the time your young person turns 18. The sooner you can begin to prepare for this changeover, the better the outcomes usually are, and you will avoid any gaps in the services you receive.
Friends and community: Finding activities and clubs for your young person is a good way to help them maintain friendships and be a part of the community into adulthood. There’s lots of exciting opportunities out there to suit a range of budgets and needs to help you prepare for the future.
Independent Living: Independent Living describes the skills needed to live independently e.g. cooking, housekeeping, travel, and handling money. There are a lot of things you can do to make sure your young person is ready for the future and life as an adult.
The Youth Connexions Learning Difficulties/Disabilities (LDD) Team
The Youth Connexions LDD Team includes specialist personal advisers dedicated to working with young people with LDD, to help them make a smooth transition into adult life. The team works closely with schools, colleges and other learning providers. It also supports young people who attend out-of-county schools or colleges and helps those not in education, employment or training. Click here to visit their website.
East Herts Projects
There are a number of exciting youth work projects running in East Herts – click here for information.
Preparing for adulthood
All young people face big changes when they leave school. But for some people with learning disabilities, their physical or emotional needs can make moving into adulthood more challenging. The Local Offer provides some great links to lots of ideas and guidance that young people, parents schools and colleges can use for support. Click here for further information