Share has partnered with another charity, The CiaO Foundation, to establish a new programme to support adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs develop the skills they need to get into work and live more independently. 

Share currently works with 191 students each week across its four sites in Wandsworth and Lambeth. Amongst the courses it provides, which develop employability and independent living skills, are catering, horticulture, digital skills, Steps into Employment, Maths and English.  

Currently, just over half of Share’s students take a course that is related to developing the skills and confidence they will need for work, yet there are many societal barriers which impede disabled and autistic adults obtaining and enjoying fulfilling work. 

In London, only 5.3% of adults with a learning disability are in paid employment (NHS Digital, Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework, 2022) compared to around 80% of the population without a learning disability. And only 30% of autistic adults work (National Autistic Society). 

Share and CiaO have recently partnered to offer scholarships to three Share students, enabling them access to an extra day of training for one day a week, for up to three years. CiaO and its partners, Act 111, Almacantar and London Metric are funding the scholarships over the three year period and will also aim to deepen the partnership through providing volunteering, work experience opportunities, and mentoring. 

Abi Carter, CEO of Share Community, said, 'We know that there a lot of stars that need to align to support students into sustainable and enjoyable employment. On top of the practical and technical skills a student needs for a job, they’re likely to need to have the confidence to travel independently and be safe in the community, as well as the emotional tools and resilience to deal with the inevitable challenges that arise in a new environment.'

'Realistically this requires a combination of different programmes and training opportunities, but many of our students only receive funding to attend one or two days a week which means progress towards their goals is not going to happen as quickly as they would like. We believe this additional commitment from CiaO and its generous partners will give three students a significant boost in their efforts to get into work.'

Having received 10 initial applications, three students were selected who are going to use their scholarships to develop their catering or digital skills. Anna-Marie, who is now receiving an extra day of digital skills training thanks to the scholarship said, 'My goal is to work in an office and I feel very happy learning office skills at Share. Thank you for helping me to learn more.' 

Andrew Hogge, Chair of the CiaO Foundation, said, 'We are so pleased to have formed this joint initiative with Share which would not have been possible without the generous support of Almacantar, London Metric and Act 111 LLP who are funding the scholarships over the three year period. We look forward to working together with Share, the sponsors and the students to help them achieve their goals to secure employment and to hopefully live more independently, as well as enjoying the new experiences offered by an expanded professional network.'

Lottie Geaves at Almacantar, one of the donors of the scheme said, 'Almacantar is delighted to support the sponsorship programme created between The CiaO Foundation and Share Community. It is fantastic to hear how well the three students, who are benefitting from the extra time at Share, are doing. We can really see how taking the courses on catering and digital skills are boosting the students’ confidence and providing practical tools which will help grow their independence and ultimately develop the skills they need to get into work in the future.' 

If you would like to find out more about supporting the scholarship scheme, please email scholarships@sharecommunity.org.uk or info@ciaofoundation.com 

Students from our new Steps into Horticulture course have been getting hands-on experience through a six-week volunteering project at Morden Hall Park, working alongside the National Trust’s Community Rangers.

Steps into Horticulture builds on Share’s well-established horticulture programme, offering students the chance to take their skills further and prepare for employment. The course focuses on developing both practical gardening techniques and essential work-readiness skills such as teamwork, communication and timekeeping. 

The volunteering project has helped our students to build their confidence in new settings. Every Monday, the class travelled from Share Tooting to Morden Hall Park, where they spent the morning working outdoors with Community Ranger Molly. This not only gave students the chance to practise familiar horticultural tasks in a new environment, but also gave them experience of following instructions from someone they haven’t worked with before, an important step towards future employment.

Students took part in a range of activities: deadheading roses in the Rose Garden, raking hay meadows, and removing invasive plants such as the Tree of Heaven. They used a variety of tools, from secateurs and loppers to a new piece of equipment for everyone - the 'tree popper', which helps pull out roots.

The project has been a fantastic opportunity for students to apply their horticultural knowledge in real-world settings, build their confidence, and get a taste of what working life might look like. As well as helping to care for the park’s green spaces, they’re also growing the skills and self-belief that will help them thrive beyond Share.

Recently, our Music students had the incredible opportunity to perform at Kensington Palace’s Community Celebration event.

In late August, students took to the stage with their own heartfelt version of 'What a Wonderful World', complete with original lyrics and artwork created during their Music classes. Each artwork reflected the students’ personal visions of a 'wonderful world', from happy moments with friends and family, to cultural traditions, music, hobbies, and other things that bring them joy. At the end of the song, several students gave short speeches sharing the inspirations behind their work, adding a personal and moving touch to the performance.

The celebration continued for a second day, when another group performed a beautiful cover of 'You Raise Me Up', using Makaton signing to make the performance inclusive and engaging for everyone. Members of the public were encouraged to sign along, creating a truly special, shared experience. The set concluded with a lively rendition of 'Ring of Fire', a song our students discovered while exploring the country music genre, which brought plenty of smiles and applause from the audience.

Our Music Tutor Emily commented, 'Our Music groups had a fantastic time performing at the Community Celebration! A huge thank you to all the amazing staff and volunteers who supported us throughout the preparation and on performance day. It was a truly special experience for our students: a chance to perform publicly, express themselves through music and art, and connect with the local community.

'We’re incredibly proud of everyone who worked together as a team, from developing ideas, writing lyrics, and creating art, to making music, singing, dancing, and lighting up the stage. Well done to all involved! We can’t wait to share more of our music in the future!'

We're so excited to introduce the new Share Community Cookbook! Produced with support from Wandsworth Council, this accessible publication is full of easy read, healthy recipes to try at home, from quick snacks and delicious meals to sweet treats. 

Just getting started with cooking? Not a problem. We've also included guidance on healthy eating and portion control, helpful kitchen safety tips, and links to our step-by-step cooking videos on YouTube. This is part of a wider project to encourage adults with a learning disability and autistic people to get cooking and feel empowered to make healthier food choices.

We can't wait for you to dive in and try out the recipes!

As part of our ongoing commitment to promote healthy eating and independence, Share hosted a cooking evening at our Clapham Junction catering kitchen. The event brought together our students, along with their parents and carers, for a hands-on session led by chef Tim. 

After asking attendees what they’d like to cook, the group settled on chicken and jollof rice. Families donned aprons and got stuck into preparing the dish, enjoying a relaxed, friendly atmosphere as they learned new skills side by side. 

At the end of the session, everyone shared the delicious results and packed up leftovers to take home. To keep the momentum going, we provided easy read recipes to encourage more home cooking and support continued confidence in the kitchen. 

Student Daniela and her mum, Delia signed up. Aside from enjoying the session, and Delia getting to see more of what Daniela does at Share, they both said that they learnt more than they were expecting to. ‘I will do more cooking at home now because I have seen that it’s easier if I stay calm,’ Daniela said, ‘I felt safer with my mother and I plan to cook more with her.’ 

Delia agreed, ‘I loved the cooking class. It’s useful to cook together because we help each other and learn from each other. It has motivated me to do more things with Daniela.’ 

The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback, and we’re excited to run more family-friendly cooking sessions in future.