GWR helping young people with autism into the world of work

GWR’s funding will enable REACCH Autism South West CIC to support four to five young people who are NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) to gain employability skills by working in the Tamar Valley Centre at Gunnislake, headquarters of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Their tasks will include manning the reception desk, data inputting, photography, blog writing and social media posts. There will also be an opportunity to take an accredited course in tourism.

As part of GWR’s franchise agreement with the Department for Transport, the train operator is committed to supporting job skills mentoring and reducing unemployment by supporting a number of initiatives.

This funding will allow REACCH Autism South West to support one-to-one guidance for the young adults to communicate their ideas and organise work tasks, provide travel expenses, and purchase office materials and equipment.

Mary Pittman, Project Leader at REACCH Autism South West CIC, said:

“We’re extremely grateful for this support from GWR. The legacy of this project will be to see these adults from REACCH attaining new experiences to take them towards paid employment and into applying for jobs with a new confidence that they can enter the world of work.

“We will measure whether the four to five young people taking part in the project feel confident to move towards employment, either part-time or full-time, within six months to a year of taking part.”

Emma Morris, Community Manager at GWR, said:

“We have a specific pot of money designed to help reduce unemployment. The mentoring and activities being provided at REACCH Autism South West CIC will help to empower these young people, giving them key social and employability skills and the confidence to enter the world of work. This social enterprise fitted our criteria perfectly.”

To find out more about REACCH Autism South West CIC please visit reacchsw.co.uk

Notes to editors

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023 with an option to extend for a further year. 

Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us