Connexions Wiltshire

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Connexions Wiltshire is part of Wiltshire Council’s Integrated Youth Service along with the 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.

You can find more about Connexions on Sparksite including information on:

• careers and jobs;
• further and higher education courses;
• work and training opportunities including apprenticeships; and
• money matters.

Sparksite also has lots of information about activities and events  for young people in Wiltshire and a radio station broadcast for young people by young people.

Who is Connexions for?

Connexions is for all young people aged 13 to 19. This includes more intensive help for young people with complex needs such as teenage parents, people excluded from school, care leavers, young offenders, or substance misuse issues and up to age 25 for some young people with learning difficulties or disabilities.

How to access Connexions

1. Through PAs based in schools or colleges

2. At a number of access locations in communities across Wiltshire

From 1 July 2011, young people who have already left school or college can access Connexions support in a wide range of localities across Wiltshire as outlined below.

North Wiltshire

For details of times or to make appointments contact 01249 449900

Town	Location	Times
Chippenham	Town Hall Museum Jobcentre	Mon pm, Wed pm, Fri am Tues pm By appointment
Calne	Registrar’s office Community hub	Mon am, Tues pm Wed pm
Corsham	Community centre	Wed pm
Cricklade	Library	Mon pm (school holidays only)
Malmesbury	School bungalow	Alternate Mon pm and Thurs pm
Purton	School bungalow Purton Library	Alternate Mon pm Alternate Thurs pm
Wootton Bassett	Youth centre	Thurs pm

South Wiltshire

For details of times and to make appointments contact 01722 424400

Town	Location	Times
Salisbury	Youth Centre, Grosvenor House Wilts Council Customer Services centre Youth Centre, Wilton Road Jobcentre	Tues am Wed pm, Thurs pm Fri am by appointment
Amesbury	Leisure Centre	Wed pm
Tisbury	Youth centre	Tues pm
Mere	Youth Centre	Tues pm
Durrington	Youth Centre	Alternate Wed pm

East Wiltshire

For details of times and to make appointments contact 01722 424400

Town	Location	Times
Devizes	Wiltshire College, Devizes Jobcentre	Mon am By appointment
Tidworth	Ordnance House	Wed pm
Marlborough	Library	Mon am
Pewsey	Leisure Centre	Tues pm

West Wiltshire

For details of times and to make appointments contact 01225 718230

Town	Location	Times
Trowbridge	Youth Centre Jobcentre	Daily By appointment
Melksham	Youth Centre	Mon pm
Warminster	Youth Centre	Thurs pm
Westbury	Youth Centre	Mon am

3. Connexions Direct

Young people can also get immediate support and information from an adviser outside of normal office hours you can speak to a Connexions Direct Adviser by ‘phoning 080 800 13 2 19 between 8am and 2am or can contact an adviser by webchat, email or text by visiting the Direct.gov.uk website

4. Referral

Some young people needing additional support may be referred to Connexions via other agencies.

Useful websites:

Career and learning options

For information on further and higher education courses, qualifications and careers, visit -

• www.wiltshire.gov.uk/choices
• 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.

Last updated: 17 June 2011