www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Supporting Young People - Connexions Wiltshire
Connexions Wiltshire is part of Wiltshire County Council’s integrated Services for Young People. Connexions works closely with Wiltshire’s Development Service for Young People (formerly the Youth Development Service) and the Targeted Support Service for Young People (formerly the Youth Offending Team).
What is Connexions?
Connexions provides advice, information and guidance (IAG) on careers and learning for all young people aged 13-19 via schools, colleges and Connexions centres.
Connexions also helps young people who need additional support, such as those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), young people with special needs or learning difficulties, teenage parents or others with more complex needs.
Connexions Personal Advisers (PAs) can help young people with anything from courses and jobs to money, legal issues, housing, relationships, alcohol and drugs, volunteering or leisure activities.
Connexions works with partner groups all over Wiltshire to make sure young people get access to the information and support they need.
Who is Connexions for?
Connexions is for all young people aged 13 to 19. More intensive help is also available for young people with learning difficulties or disabilities (up to age 25), or those with complex needs such as teenage parents, people excluded from school, care leavers, young offenders, or substance misuse issues.
How to access Connexions
1. Through PAs based in schools or colleges
2. Through ‘drop-in’ and outreach centres
Young people who do not wish to see a PA at school or college can visit Connexions centres in main towns and in some outreach areas.
The main ‘drop-in’ centres are at:
Chippenham
1 Avon Reach
Monkton Hill
Chippenham
Centre manager: Sue Broughton
Telephone: 01249449900.
CNX_chippenham@wiltshire.gov.uk
Salisbury
Milford House
43-55 Milford Street
Salisbury
Centre manager: Peter Moxley.
Telephone: 01722 424400
CNX_Salisbury@wiltshire.gov.uk
Trowbridge
1 Wicker Hill
Trowbridge
Centre manager: Mary Clappen.
Tel: 01225 716450
CNX_Trowbridge@wiltshire.gov.uk
Opening times are:
Mon, Tues, Thurs, 9.30am - 5.00pm
Wed, 10.00am - 5.00pm
Fri, 9.30am - 4.00pm
Young people can drop-in or call to find out about other Connexions services in their local area.
3. Connexions Direct
Young people can also get immediate support and information from Connexions Direct, a national Government helpline and website.
It is available seven days a week, from 8am to 2am.
Telephone: 080 800 13 2 19
Website: www.connexions-direct.com
Text: 07766 4 13 2 19
4. Referral
Some young people needing additional support may be referred to Connexions via other agencies.
Useful websites:
Looking for jobs
Connexions Wiltshire has a job vacancy database for 16 and 17 year olds, updated every week, at www.connexionsws.org.uk/vacancies
Courses, colleges and qualifications
Young people can find out all they need to know about local courses, schools and colleges, qualifications and funding at http://swinwilts.futures4me.co.uk/
Getting involved
www.sparksite.co.uk has a wide range of information on events, activities, leisure, news and youth involvement throughout Wiltshire, plus an online radio station run by young people.
Careers
For information on further and higher education courses, qualifications and careers, visit www.focusoncareers.org.uk
What does Connexions do?
Some of the things Connexions is involved in are:
- Providing information, advice and guidance (IAG) to all young people in schools and colleges on courses, qualifications and careers
- Intensive support to young people with more complex needs
- Helping to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) through work on the Wiltshire NEET strategy
- Providing positive activities such as Summer Challenge and other targeted programmes, which help boost young people’s self esteem and skills and provide them with awards and qualifications
- Work with the voluntary and community sector, through funding for projects with young people
- Tracking the destinations of all young people who leave school to find out if they need additional support
- Involving young people in commenting on, designing and running the service, such as through staff appointments
- Supporting young people with learning disabilities through transition to other organisations or services.
Wiltshire Skills Festival
Over 1,700 school students attended the Wiltshire Skills Festival in March at Wiltshire College, Lackham, to find out about careers and try a range of ‘hands-on’ activities. Students from Stonehenge School in Amesbury are pictured.
Contact Details
The Connexions Head Office is at:
7 Ascot Court,
White Horse Business Park
Trowbridge
BA14 0XA
Telephone
01225 716070
Head of the Connexions service is Merfyn Williams, Head of Universal Individual Learner Support.
