Treloar College in Alton, which supports young people with complex physical disabilities, has been awarded £50,775 to help create valuable work experience opportunities for its students. This grant will fund the role of a Work Experience Officer, who will arrange work placements for students, helping to prepare them for life after college. This may include going into voluntary or paid employment with the aim of boosting confidence and skills for the future.

The Work Experience Officer is part of the Transition Team at Treloar’s. The total cost of this department is over £220,000 a year, which is funded solely through voluntary donations.

Disabled people are far less likely to find employment

Young disabled people are almost half as likely as their non-disabled peers to be in employment – 46.5% compared to 84%, according to a 2016 report from the Papworth Trust.  A shocking 44.3% of working-age disabled people are without a job; nearly 4 times higher than for non-disabled people.

Treloar’s Principal Martin Ingram said:

“We are very grateful to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons for their generous grant. It will help give our students confidence and develop skills and experience for the future.”

Mike Wilks, Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons said:

“We are very pleased to be able to support the Treloar Trust, which does outstanding work in giving young disabled people in our community the chance to experience the world of work.”