What is it?
The Looked After Supported Employment (LASE) Scheme provides paid work experience for 'looked after' young people aged between 16 and 19. It is an opportunity for new and positive experiences within a work place environment.
Many of the young participants have struggled to achieve in other areas of their life, so it is a credit to LASE that all the young people currently on the scheme are doing vocational training. Our hope is that both the work experience and training will equip these young people with the skills, confidence and self-discipline for future work.
About the placement:
- organised to suit individual needs of the young person.
- every young person has a workplace mentor who will offer support and encouragement.
- placement length varies dependent on the training undertaken (up to 12 weeks).
- placements vary from two – five days a week.
- reference provided to future employers if a young person completes the main part of the scheme.
Originally, all placements were within Bolton Council. Most departments have responded to their 'corporate parenting' role by offering looked after young people various opportunities. Young people gain an overview of how these departments work and there are possibilities for apprenticeships or more permanent employment, in the future.
Limitations in the type of placement available within the council have been addressed by developing links with local businesses and several good, reliable placements have been secured within the Bolton area.
Who runs LASE?
The scheme is managed through the Corporate Children's Office. The scheme co-ordinator makes sure that both mentors and young people are fully supported throughout the placement.
If you are interested in the scheme, talk to your leaving care worker first. Your leaving care worker will tell the scheme co-ordinator you are interested so that an informal chat can be arranged.