It's Learning Disability Week and this year's theme is 'Do you see me?', which is all about being seen, heard and valued. Here at Strawberry Field we work with many young people with learning disabilities (through our Steps to Work programme) who show us their value every day. Steps to Work is a programme designed to empower young adults with learning difficulties and help them overcome barriers into paid employment. You can find out more about Steps to Work here.

In honour of Learning Disability Week, Steps to Work team leader Adele spoke to Sarah, a Steps to Work trainee, about the skills she has and the challenges she faces when looking for work.

Hi Sarah. What uni did you go to and what degree did you do?

For my undergraduate, I studied French and Spanish at the University of Manchester, including a year abroad at the Université de Poitiers (France) and an internship in Barcelona. As I didn’t quite feel ready to start work immediately afterward, I followed this up by doing a Masters in Translation at the University of Sheffield.

Why did you join the Steps To Work programme?

I joined Steps To Work because I found it a real struggle to find a job after university. I had tried hard for almost a year and it always came to no avail, despite having good qualifications. Pretty much all of my university friends had a job, too, which certainly didn’t help. Therefore, I knew something else was behind my struggle, which needed to be identified and the appropriate support given. Hearing that this support was available through the Steps To Work programme moved me so deeply that I just had to sign up.

How has the programme helped you?

Personally, it has given my confidence a genuine boost. I came to Steps To Work having spent much of the year since completing my masters at home, keeping busy with personal projects but with hardly any social interaction, even at my graduation. It didn’t help either that I missed a couple of years in societies and seminar rooms due to the pandemic. My best interview prior to Steps To Work was a French oral exam that went unexpectedly well. Now, I am an effective member of an HR team, expanding my transferable skills into those of a young professional, and my communication has definitely improved. I am also in a much happier place thanks to Steps To Work, still keeping my own projects going but now having value to my life.

What advice would you give to another student looking to join the programme?

It doesn’t matter what is holding you back. The Steps To Work team provide personalised support in a friendly, approachable manner. They are not like a JobsCentre and push you into whatever job they can find. Instead, they tailor the support around you, helping you find employment suited to your skills and talents. They won’t put you down either, but focus on what you can do. Quite frankly, it is a one-of-a-kind opportunity that you won’t regret.

Any other comments?

Finding a job after university is rarely straightforward. By joining Steps To Work, you’ll find that doors start opening up for you, even ones you didn’t think of. Being prepared for employment is only half the story, but without a doubt it is the more important of the two as, without preparation, the end goal of entering employment is extremely difficult to reach. Steps To Work breaks down all this in a way that is professional and easy to understand, giving you the time and space you need to learn the tools necessary for job applications and the workplace.

Would you like to employ Sarah in your workplace? Get in touch at steps@strawberryfieldliverpool.com