Care Leavers - Education, Training and Work
Information and advice for young people in Solihull who are about to leave or have left our care
What to do post-16
Deciding what to do after 16 is not easy. There are lots of options open to you, such as staying in education, looking for training or another employment option.
The 16+ Team Connexions Service
There are a number of areas that you may be interested in training, working or studying. These may include:
- Retail
- Child Care
- Catering
- Administration
- Engineering
- Construction
- Hair and beauty
- Horticulture
We have links with a number of training providers and colleges in the Birmingham and Solihull area. We can provide advice throughout the process of accessing these and support you during your time there.
We offer advice on:
- Filling out application forms
- Completing a CV
- Interview techniques
- Give general information
- Support in taking you to interviews
The Connexions Personal Advisor's based at Craig Croft Centre can be contacted on 0121 788 4200 or free phone 0808 16 07 211.
Connexions Officers are available on a Thursday afternoon 1.00pm - 4.00pm for general advice on all subjects related to Employment, Education and Training. If possible please telephone to book an appointment.
Colleges
Solihull College is an Further Education (FE) college offering full-time, part-time and evening and weekend courses at two campuses in the borough. Their website includes an online prospectus to help you choose.
Solihull Sixth Form College is specifically for young people and offers full-time courses, including A and A/S Levels, GNVQ and BTEC.
There are lots of colleges in Birmingham offering courses and training schemes.
Job Centres
Job Centres can help you find work. Commonly, young people come into contact with the job centre through their experience of New Deal.
New Deal
New Deal is a government programme for young people (18 - 24) who have been out of work for 6 months or more.
As soon as you receive a letter telling you the date and time of your first appointment with a personal adviser, you are on the first stage of New Deal, known as Gateway. If you don't turn up for this meeting, you can lose all or part of your benefits.
Over the Gateway period of up to four months you can get careers guidance and advice, go on courses and do 'taster sessions'. At the end of this time you choose from one of the four New Deal options.
Recent care leavers can join New Deal early if they want to.
At the end of the gateway period, you have the choice of full-time subsidised employment - which will include some training, voluntary work, work in the Environment Task Force or training/education.
In paid employment you must be paid the minimum wage and you are entitled to one day's training per week. The un-paid options allow you to continue to claim JSA plus certain top-up allowances. You may be financially better off by choosing an un-paid option.
Paid time off work to study!
If you are 16 or 17, in work and have few or no qualifications (less than an NVQ level 2 or four GCSEs grades A* - C), you are entitled to paid time off work for studying.
You can study for a nationally recognised qualification to help you improve your employment prospects. You can study at work, or with a college or training provider and the amount of time depends upon the training requirements.
Voluntary Work
Undertaking voluntary work is a good way to get experience and to test out jobs that you might be interested in.
You can work as a volunteer and carry on claiming benefits as long as you remain available for paid work. You must tell the Benefits Agency about any voluntary or other unpaid work you are doing.
Contact Details
For more information please contact 16+ team
Telephone: 0808 16 02 211 - for young people only.
Telephone: 0121 788 4200 - for all other people.
Emergency Duty Team: 0121 605 6060
Email: 16plus@solihull.gov.uk
Careers Service
Solihull Connexions
Central Library
Homer Road
Solihull
B91 3RG
Telephone: 0121 704 6711
Chelmsley Wood Connexions Centre
289 Bosworth Drive
Chelmsley Wood
B37 5DP
Telephone: 0121 770 1861
Web: http://www.connexions-bs.co.uk/
Or email: info@connexions-bs.co.uk
From the Connexions websites there are links to colleges all over the West Midlands.
Opening Hours
Monday-Wednesday: 8.45am - 5.20pm
Thursday: 8.45am - 7.00pm
Friday: 8.45am - 4.30pm
www.ebpartnership.org.uk/
Birmingham Careers Education & Business Partnership website
lists job vacancies for young people and has lots of links to colleges, careers and advice sites.
Colleges
Solihull College
Blossomfield Road
Solihull
Partridge Close
Chelmsley Wood
Telephone: 0121 678 7000
for general enquiries
Solihull Sixth Form College
Widney Manor Road
Solihull
Telephone: 0121 704 2581
for general enquiries
http://www.solihullsfc.ac.uk/index.php
Colleges in Birmingham
Telephone: 0121 303 4318
for general enquiries
Volunteering
Solihull Council for Voluntary Services
Telephone: 0121 788 1264 (Chelmsley Wood)
0121 704 1619 (Solihull)
Email: info@cvs-solihull.fsnet.co.uk
Birmingham Volunteer Bureau
Telephone: 0121 643 4343
Millenium Volunteers
National database of voluntary
opportunities for young people
Telephone: 0800 085 1624