Chapter 8 – Education, Employment and Volunteering
This chapter detail educational, employment and volunteering opportunities in and around Merton.
Local Education Providers
Merton Adult Education
Telephone: 07976 888 657
E- mail adultlearning@merton.gov.uk
http://www.merton.gov.uk/learning/adulteducation.htm
Sutton College
St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1EA
Telephone: 020 8770 5566
Website: http://www.suttoncollege.ac.uk/
Enquiries: enrol@scola.ac.uk
Based at our Sutton Centre our friendly Customer Enquiry team will help you to enrol and help with any course queries.
Vocational Training Colleges
There are several residential colleges that offer job training or re-training to people who have a physical disability or a sensory impairment.
Contact the Disability Employment Advisor (DEA) at your local Jobcentre
Telephone: 0845 604 3719
Textphone:0845 608 8551
Apprenticeships
An apprentice works with experienced staff to gain job-specific skills and earns a wage, while studying for a related qualification. Apprenticeships take between 1 and 4 years to complete depending on their level.
Find out more about apprenticeships (GOV.UK website)
Find an apprenticeship (Apprenticeships website)
Traineeships
A traineeship will help you to develop the skills you need to secure and succeed in employment, including apprenticeships. If you have been unsuccessful in applying for apprenticeships due to a lack of skills and experience then you might be a good candidate for a traineeship.
Find out more about traineeships (National Careers Service)
Find a traineeship (Apprenticeships website)
Merton’s Adult social care workforce development
You may apply for the free learning provision in this programme if:
- you work for local voluntary, independent or private organisations.
- you are a carer or provide social care services within the Merton community.
This year's diverse programme has been designed specifically for Care Workers, Carers and Managers who provide social care services to the Merton Community. Your work may support local people with mental health needs, learning or physical disability, or other adult care needs. The specialist events in this programme aim to support your continued development to enable you to deliver the care and empowerment that our customers require.
These learning initiatives also give you the opportunity to network with other people who do similar work in a fun and productive way. You will be able to discuss issues and share ideas in an environment where you can learn from one another.
Merton continue to work in partnership with a variety of professional training organisations to provide access to excellent quality social care training. Some of the training is accredited under the QCF (Qualification credit framework) and this includes the Diploma in Health and Social Care and leadership programmes.
Merton seek to continually improve their support and partnership arrangements with local service providers and invite you to submit comments about this programme and your ideas for future events.
Adult Social Care
HR Policy Development Team, 5th Floor, Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, SM4 5DX
Telephone: 020 8545 3383
http://www.merton.gov.uk/learning/training-development/social-care-training.htm
Education Benefits
Disabled Students’ Allowance
Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) provide extra financial help for higher education students with a disability, ongoing health condition, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia.
This non means-tested allowance is to help to meet extra studying costs arising from their disability, including equipment, paid helpers, or extra heating.
Student Finance England
Address for paper applications and evidence
Student Finance England, PO Box 210, Darlington, DL1 9HJ
Telephone:0300 100 0607
Minicom: 0845 604 44 34
You can apply online at : http://www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk
https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/overview
Useful Organisations
Open University
Welcomes and supports students with disabilities.
The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
Telephone: 0300 303 5303
The Disability Resources Team
Telephone: 01908 653745
Textphone:01908 655978
Fax:01908 655 547
Email: disabled-student-resources@open.ac.uk
Useful information can be found on www.open.ac.uk/disability
Disability Rights UK
Provides advice to disabled students
Ground Floor, CAN Mezzanine, 49-51 East Rd, London, N1 6AH
Office Number: 020 7250 8181
Disabled Students Helpline – 0800 328 5050
(this line open Mon-Fri, between 10.00 and 12.30pm and 1.30 and 4.00pm)
http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org
Email: enquiries@disabilityrightsuk.org
Employment
Disability Employment Advisors
Are located at your local job centres
Telephone: 0845 604 3719
They provide the following services:
- An employment assessment to identify what type of work or training would suit you best or a referral to a Work Psychologist for a more detailed assessment.
- A job-matching and referral service - the DEA can let you know about jobs that match your experience and skills and provide advice about Access to Work, if require
- A referral, where appropriate, to the Work Programme to help you prepare for and stay in work
- Referrals to programmes for disabled people, such as Work Choice or Residential Training
- Information on employers who have adopted the Two Ticks disability symbol, awarded by the Job Centre to employers who have made commitments to employ, keep and develop disabled staff.
Local Organisations
Mencap Direct
Mencap Direct is the easiest way for you to access advice and information about learning disability and find the right support and Mencap services in your area.
Telephone: 0808 808 1111 (From 9am until 5pm)
Email: help@mencap.org.uk
Merton Mencap
Merton Mencap, Wilson Hospital, Cranmer Road, Mitcham CR4 4TP
Telephone: 020 8646 0965
Email: info.merton@swlondonmencap.nhs.uk
http://www.mertonmencap.org.uk/
Volunteering
Volunteering Centre Merton
Merton Voluntary Service Council (MVSC)
The Vestry Hall, London Road, Mitcham, CR4 3UD
Telephone: 020 8685 1771
Email: info@mvsc.co.uk
National Organisations
Do-It
A national database of volunteering opportunities. Part of the YouthNet charity
First Floor, 50 Featherstone Street, London, EC1Y 8RT
Telephone: 020 7250 5700
Reach
A charity that finds placements for skilled volunteers in voluntary sector roles where their skills are needed.
89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP
Telephone: 020 7582 6543
Fax: 020 7582 2423
Email: mail@reachskills.org.uk
NCVO - Volunteering England
Offers a range of services designed to support and enable volunteering.
Society Building, 8 All Saints Street, London, N1 9RL
Telephone: 020 7713 6161
Fax: 020 7713 6300
Email: ncvo@ncvo.org.uk
Action on Hearing Loss (the new name for RNID)
Action on Hearing Loss is the Royal national charity helping people confronting deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss to live the life they choose. Your skills, commitment and enthusiasm could help to make a real difference to the lives of the 11 million people with hearing loss in the UK.
Telephone: 080 8808 0123
Text phone: 080 8808 9000
Email: volunteering@hearingloss.org.uk
www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
RNIB (The Royal National Institute of Blind People)
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) support everyone affected by sight loss.
Volunteering Team
Telephone: 0845 603 0575 or 01733 375450
Email: volunteering@rnib.org.uk
Shaw Trust
A national charity that supports disabled and disadvantaged people seeking independent living and work.
Telephone: 01225 716300
Minicom: 08457 697 288
