Joseph’s future looks bright after Empower Works support
24-year-old Joseph Davison is thriving in his new job after a successful work trial in a state-of-the-art factory.
ProgressNE gets Josh back on track
Josh Priest is going places after he enrolled on the ProgressNE employability programme earlier this year.
Josh, 20, who is autistic and has ADHD, began with travel training with his adviser Alex Hall and his confidence and independence soared.
Alex also introduced him to a boxing gym in Blyth, Northumberland, where the pair went once a week so Josh could train.
We caught up with Josh again recently – and he says his life has opened up because he can now travel independently around the North East. He says: “I have done bus journeys so many times now, I can do them without thinking.
"It has given me independence and opened up so many doors for me."
“I box three times a week now in Cramlington and Blyth – I love it. It builds your personality and resilience and I have got friends there as well.”
With Alex’s support, Josh has also started looking for jobs and has already had interviews with retailers Next and Aldi.
Josh joined ProgressNE because he didn’t have a job after finishing two years at college and a year’s supported internship in a garden centre.
“I didn’t know what I was going to do, and I was struggling,” Josh said. “I was upset and anxious.”
ProgressNE supports social inclusion and wellbeing as well as employability, and Alex began by working with Josh on relaxing and getting his confidence back.
The pair also worked together on overcoming Josh’s anxiety around bus travel so he could plan journeys and travel independently.
Josh, who lives in Widdrington Station in Northumberland, said: “Two months ago I hated buses. I found the unknown really scary, and worried about what to say when I got on and what I would do if there were a lot of people on board.
"Alex and I did journeys together, and now I go on buses by myself all the time. It’s already helped with my self-belief. My confidence has soared and I’m so much more relaxed."
He is now looking for work in retail or as a stockroom assistant. “I’m always active and have lots of energy – I would like an active role,” he says. “Alex and I have been looking on job sites, and have worked on my CV and how to answer interview questions. All the processes are in place.”
Alex can’t wait to see where he ends up. The employment adviser says: “I am amazed at Josh’s progress. He didn’t have a lot of self-belief when he joined the programme, and being out of work and education had taken a toll on his mental and social health.
"People in his life have commented on how much more relaxed he seems now. Seeing his confidence grow is inspiring and reminds me why I do this job."
ProgressNE is delivered by the North East Autism Society in partnership with Azure Charitable Enterprises, and is funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
It provides personalised support to economically inactive people living in Newcastle, Northumberland, and North Tyneside, who are neurodivergent, have learning difficulties or disabilities, or are experiencing poor mental health.
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