Independence
Information and guidance to support young people's path to independence
At your year nine review, you will be supported to think about your future. It is important that you and your family have good information from the start so that your support needs are assessed, and possible options are explored and understood.
N bus journey
Young Person waiting for the bus
Image Gallery
Watch: Young pioneer takes you travel training
Wiltshire Centre For Independent Living works with young people and adults to support their independence. Their Community Connecting Service offers one to one support to help people engage with the community and enable people to live 'their good life'. This might include someone to accompany you on transport while gaining confidence. They take referrals from multiple agencies, to enquire further visit Wiltshire Centre for Independent Learning (CIL): Contact us.
In preparation for adulthood, it is expected that the majority of young people beyond the age of 16 will travel independently to their place of education. There will be a small number of learners who, after travel training, are not able to travel independently. A subsidised travel scheme is available for these learners continuing in full-time education (either school or college).
For more information visit: Transport application and policy
In preparation for adulthood, it is expected that the majority of young people beyond the age of 16 will travel independently to their place of work. There will be a small number who, after travel training, require further assistance.
A travel scheme called Access To Work is available, for more information on this you can visit the government website: Access to work
You can also discuss your options with Wiltshire Employment Support Team. For more information visit: WEST
The aim of the Blue Badge Scheme is to help disabled people who have severe mobility problems to access goods and services, by allowing them to park close to their destination. The scheme is open to eligible disabled people when they are travelling as a driver and as a passenger.
For more information visit: Blue Badges Information
Many in the SEND community may be eligible for a bus pass due to medical eligibility.
This is when disability is permanent or has lasted at least 12 months, be likely to last 12 months or be likely to recur, and should have a substantial effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
For more information visit: Apply for a bus pass
Advice about housing options should be discussed with you as you grow up and should include information on:
- support at home
- Wiltshire's Shared Lives Scheme
- private Rent
- social housing
- residential or nursing care services
- supported living
For more information visit: Somewhere to live
You may also find having a Personal Assistant useful in aiding you in a range of daily activities:
For more information on visit: Using a personal assistant
There is also a great organisation you can talk to for advice and to make your voice heard: Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living
Wiltshire has a wide range of place you can visit to access community support across the county. These include places to stay warm and safe and to get access to food support.
The ethos behind the community spaces providing this support is to be:
- welcoming and inclusive
- safe with appropriate safeguarding, insurance and all appropriate policies in place
- non-judgemental, where everyone in treated equally with dignity and respect
- no cost or low cost to attendees
Visit the hub page to find your nearest support:
There are lots of financial support options which you may qualify for. The following pages with assist in highlighting who to talk to about money, how best to use it to support you, and what you are entitled to.
For more information visit: Money advice and support pages
The Community Connecting team assist customers to find out more about their local community and how they can access some of the following.
- finding voluntary work
- socialising
- joining a club
- further education; including college courses and other training opportunities
- using their community facilities to do things they enjoy
- meeting friends
- traineeships
- travel training
We provide a time-limited service; with the aim of working with the customer so they are able to find, take part in their chosen community activity, and to do this independently.
For more information visit: Community Connecting information
Your voice in the community
This section has ways to find activities with other people or tell people about things you have planned.
Wiltshire Together
The digital platform that connects people, groups and organisations in Wiltshire to their community. You can list support, volunteering, groups and relevant events.
Our Community Matters
Local interactive notice boards which everyone can use to highlight and discuss local news events and ideas
Centre for Independent Living
You can contribute alongside other people with lived experience of health and social care services to have your say, ensuring that your voice is heard to influence how services are shaped and developed in Wiltshire.
There is a lot of help, and a lot of people to talk to. If you don not find what you need here, there are other options:
SEND Information Advice and Support Service
You can also visit our advice and support page:
We can also be reached at localoffer@wiltshire.gov.uk for feedback or questions about finding the right information. Hearing from people helps us target where we are missing information. We are very friendly, so do reach out.
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