Preparing for Adulthood Festival Tuesday 7th November Bedford Corn Exchange 10am to 6pm
Bedford Borough Council are hosting a Preparing for Adulthood Festival on Tuesday 7th November 2023 at Bedford Corn Exchange
Preparing for adulthood can be an exciting time full of new opportunities, choices and increased independence, but it can also be a difficult and uncertain time. Young people and their parents and carers may be unsure about what to expect and where to get advice, support or information to help make decisions at this key time.
The Preparing for Adulthood Festival is a free information event offering support and advice for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families as the young people begin to think about their future.
We also hope that Employers will join us to find out more about being a Disability Confident Employer as well as talking to young people about career opportunities in their industry.
We want to hear from you about your experience at the Preparing for Adulthood Festival 2023 your feedback is important
Your views are important. If you attend the Preparing for Adulthood Festival please complete the feedback form. This will help us shape the Event for next year.
Visit https://forms.gle/LbcWZZMiuH764p3T6
SAVE THE DATE Preparing for Adulthood Festival 2024 Tuesday 19th November 10am to 6pm Bedford Corn Exchnge
The Preparing for Adulthood Festival will be back in 2024
When Tuesday 19th November 2024
Time 10am -6pm
Venue Bedford Corn Exchange
Preparing for Adulthood festival 2023 Exhibitor Guide
Please see the Exhibitor guide here
Preparing for Adulthood festival 2023 Event Guide
Please see the Event guide here
Parent/ Carer Registration
Book Tickets Now
There are two different types of tickets. General Admission Tickets for Individuals and General Admission Tickets for Groups - most likely to be school and college groups.
Individual Admission ticket book here
School/ College Group Registration
Book Tickets for your group Now!!
Please email Naomi.Clark@bedford.gov.uk by 12 noon on Thursday 2nd November 2023
Who is the Event For?
Download the event guide here
This free event is for young people (aged 14 to 25 years old) with additional needs and disabilities and their parents and carers.
The event is from 10am-6pm. This enables young people to visit in school/college groups during the day or maybe with parent carers after school.
The event is also for employers and will give employers the opportunity to find out more about how they can support young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to enter the workforce.
What can attendees expect?
Information Sessions for Parent Carers, Young People and Practitioners
Please see the Exhibitor guide here
Please see the Event guide here
Throughout the day there is an opportunity for Parent Carers, Young People and Practitioners to attend Information Sessions. You can attend any of the sessions. Please refere to the event guide by clicking here
Pre-booking is recommended to secure your place via the Eventbrite links provided. FOf course if you want to just turn up on the day and there are spaces available you would be most welcome.
Below are details of some of the Information Sessions (this is not an exhaustive list)
10.00-10.30 The Role of the Children with Disabilities Team in supporting young people as they transition to adulthood. CHILDREN SERVICES
Target Audience - Parent Carers and young people open to the Children with Disabilities or Short Breaks Team
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-the-children-with-disabilities-team-support-with-transitions-tickets-726428837207?aff=oddtdtcreator
10.00-10.30 Developing shared principles across an Integrated Care Partnership. Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Children and Young People’s Transformation Board identified Preparing for Adulthood and Transition as a key priority. The outcomes from the Preparing for Adulthood summits held in the summer will be shared and you will have an opportunity to help shape some of these principles. Simon Hardcastle-Waugh, Deputy Chief Nurse BLMK, ICB
Target Audience - Parent carers/young people/practitioners. Those interested in shaping services.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/developing-shared-principles-across-an-integrated-care-partnership-tickets-728342370637?aff=oddtdtcreator
10.00-10.30 Supported Internships – The different Schemes Available across Bedfordshire. BEDFORD COLLEGE
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/young-person-and-parent-carer-information-session-supported-internships-tickets-728309391997?aff=oddtdtcreator
Target Audience - Parent carers/practitioners/ young people with an Education and Health Care Plan
10.45-11.15 Successful Transitions – A Parent’s View. BEDFORD PARENT CARERS FORUM.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/successful-transitions-a-parents-view-tickets-726436460007?aff=oddtdtcreator
Repeated 16.30-17.00
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/successful-transitions-a-parents-view-session-2-tickets-726440331587?aff=oddtdtcreator
Target Audience - Parent Carers
12.15-13.15 Housing Options – Find out more about Supported Living, Shared Lives and having a tenancy. HOUSING OPTIONS and SHARED LIVES.
Target Audience - Parent carers/young people/practitioners.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/information-session-housing-options-tickets-726416761087?aff=oddtdtcreator
12.15-13.15 Post 16 Options in Education, Employment and Training. SEND TEAM and PROVIDERS including BEDFORD COLLEGE, BARNFIELD COLLEGE, ALTRISE, SSG and more.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/information-session-post-16-options-in-education-training-and-employment-tickets-726398917717?aff=oddtdtcreator
Repeated 15.45-16.45
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/information-session-post-16-options-in-education-training-and-employment-tickets-726412819297?aff=oddtdtcreator
Target Audience - Parent carers/young people/practitioners.
12.15-12.45
A Guide to Adult Social Care
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-guide-to-adult-social-care-tickets-726450592277?aff=oddtdtcreator
Target Audience - Parent carers/young people/practitioners.
13.30-14.00 All you need to know about Apprenticeships with Bedford College
Target Audience - Parent carers/young people/practitioners.
11.30-12.00
Be Healthy – A guide to Adult Healthcare
Repeated 15.15-15.45 – no Eventbrite link, tickets available on the door
Target Audience - Parent carers/young people/practitioners.
11.30-12.00
Information Session The Job Centre and Disability Employment Advisers
A chance for parents/carers and young people to find out more about the support available from the Job Centre
Repeated 15.45-16.15
Target Audience - Parent carers/young people/practitioners.
13.45-14.15 The Discovery College and Better Days
Tickets available on the door
14.30-15.00 Transitions with CAMHS
Tickets avilable on the door
17.00-17.45 Supported Internships - All you need to know. DFN PROJECT SEARCH and BEDFORD COLLEGE
Target Audience - Parent carers/practitioners/ young people with an Education and Health Care Plan
Who will be at the Event?
Please see the Exhibitor guide here
Please see the Event guide here
The number of exhibitors who will attend the event will keep growing. Below is a selection of those that have signed up so far and the different topics that will be covered:-
Education - talk to different education providers about the courses available and the entry requirements
Bedford College. Altrise
Employment - what is the difference between a Supported Internship and an Apprenticeship? Meet young people with experience to help you decide what is right for you
DfN Project Search; NDTi; Bedford Borough HR Department
Employment Skills - join in the interactive workshops on CV writing and interview skills. Meet representatives from the Jobs Hub and Employment Support
Independent Living Skills - find out more about travelling independently or housing options
Shared Lives; Bedford Independent Living Team, Huddleston Way Supported Living
Community - find out all about the exciting social opportunities you can get involved with
Living it Up
Adult Services - for those young people with high level needs there will be representatives from health and social care that will be able to take you through the referral processes
CAMHS, Adult Learning Disability Team
Health
Health Facilitation Team; Annual Health Checks
Information and Guidance
SENDIASS, Local Offer, Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum
.......and more
Workshops for Young People aged 14-25
Please see the Event guide here
There are a number of interactive and fun workshops throughout the day for young people. Please take a look at the Event Guide for more details.
Places on the workshops will be limited so please email naomi.clark@bedford.gov.uk if you wish to make a booking. You will of course be able to turn up to Workshops on the day if places are available
Event Format
Click here to view the event guide
There will be:-
• Information Stands - The Market Place
• Interactive Workshop - covering topics such as CV writing and Interview Skills
• Information Sessions – for parents, young people and employers on topics such as apprenticeships, supported internships and housing options
Timings
Click here to view the event guide
Timing
The event is from 10am-6pm. This enables young people to visit in school/college groups during the day or maybe with parent carers after school.
Young peoplecan also visit independently.
+++++Exhibitor Registration NOW CLOSED+++++
The event is an opportunity for Bedfordshire based organisations that provide support to young people aged 16+ with SEND to promote their services and for Employers to meet young people and provide careers advice, talk about job opportunities and think about how they can make their workplaces accessible to young people with SEND.
By exhibiting at the event you will have the chance to
- Showcase your services and increase awareness
- Provide information on referral processes and entry requirements
- Meet young people and their parents or carers
- Network with other exhibitors
We want the event to be informative but also interesting and fun so it is a memorable day for young people. If you choose to become an exhibitor we therefore would like you to bring along interactive activities that you can use to inspire young people.
Event Format
There will be:-
- Information Stands – spaces for 150+ exhibitors
- Interactive Workshop spaces
- Presentations – 30 minute presentation slots throughout the day with 3 presentation rooms
Timing
The event is from 10am-6pm. This enables young people to visit in school/college groups during the day or maybe with parent carers after school.
Who are the other exhibitors?
Many great organisations have expressed interest in attending such as Bedford College, SSG, the Jobs Hub and SEMLEP to name just a few. We will keep you updated as more join. A wide range of teams from Bedford Borough Council and across health will also be at the event, who can provide advice and guidance and signpost to helpful resources. Teams signed up to attend include the Adult Learning Disability Team, Health Facilitation Team, SENDIASS, SEND Team and Local Offer
