ESPA College is in the news this week….

As featured in the Sunderland Echo 27.1.15

Helping People with Autism into Work

THE world of work will be opened up to students thanks to a deal between colleges.

Sunderland College and Education and Services for People with Autism (ESPA) College have teamed up to run the vocational programmes for 16 to 24-year-olds with autism.

From September, the full-time Pathways courses will see them spend up to one-and-a-half-days a week at Sunderland College on vocational elements of their One Awards-accredited scheme, which could range from engineering to hairdressing or IT.

The remainder will be at ESPA on programmes.

Paul Cook, principal of ESPA College, said: “We are genuinely excited about this new partnership, which will offer young people on the autism spectrum the best of both worlds.”

Anne Isherwood, principal and chief executive of Sunderland College, added: “In close collaboration with ESPA, we are dedicated to supporting these students locally and we look forward to working with a greater number of ESPA learners at Sunderland College.” Places are funded by a student’s local authority and ESPA can help with applications.

An open evening for parents and prospective students will be held at Bede Tower, Burdon Road, on Tuesday, February 3, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

For more details visit espacollege.org.uk/courses or on 510 2611

NEW START: Paul Cook, principal of ESPA College, and Anne Isherwood, principal and chief executive of Sunderland College, with ESPA student Charlie Sear at the art department at Sunderland Colleges Bede campus.

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