TWO national awards for Wirral programme helping young people with autism into work

Staff at Wirral’s Step into Work Plus are celebrating today after bagging two awards at the National Autistic Society annual conference last night.

At the award ceremony, held at the Harrogate International Centre, the team won an award for outstanding adult services and another for most supportive employer.

Step into Work Plus is a programme run by Autism Together, a north west charity supporting more than 450 people with autism and employing a thousand people across Wirral, Cheshire and north Wales.

Step into Work Plus received £265,000 of Big Lottery Funding in 2011. The 24-week programme has, to date, helped 126 people: 42 are now in paid employment, 19 are in voluntary roles and seven are in full-time education. Over 40 employers and work placement providers in greater Merseyside have worked with the scheme, including Pets at Home, Wirral Libraries, the Light cinema in New Brighton and Tranmere Rovers FC.

Chief executive of Autism Together, Robin Bush, said,  “Our team were up against some stiff competition and they’ve done incredibly well to win two separate awards.  Step into Work Plus has been a labour of love for the team. They’ve produced life-changing results for their students and showed many Merseyside employers that people with autism can be fantastic employees.”

Step into Work Plus takes a holistic and tailored approach to each student and includes coaching in employment skills, such as understanding how to dress smartly and how shop, handle money, take part in social events and travel on public transport.  Students even have the chance to create their own micro business.