QAC and West Midlands Combined Authority Come together for SEND

Queen Alexandra Charity (QAC) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) recently joined forces to bring together local education, training, business, charity and community organisations involved in working with NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

The roundtable event was an opportunity to explore the local landscape and consider areas of improvement and development. It saw presentations from QAC Chief Executive and Executive Principal, Bev Jessop who spoke about pathways to adulthood and presented on ways QAC were addressing this. Nathan Weeks, from WMCA demonstrated how the West Midlands can boast a strong and distinct economic foundation which included having one of the largest, fastest growing, youngest and most diverse populations in the UK and Birmingham being the top city for foreign direct investment outside of London.

Charlotte McGrath, CEO of Movement to Work explained their work to collaborate with employers and deliver inclusive work opportunity programmes connecting them with youth organisations and training partners.

The highlight of the afternoon, though, had to be QAC Alumni, Charlie Stonham who walked guests through his journey from school to QAC, through QAC and now beyond. Charlie, once a residential college student is now living in his own supported living flat and works in a variety of roles from delivering drama workshops in schools to delivering talks at a local University on SEND.

Jagdeep Soor, who conceptualised and organised the event said:

‘It was great to see so many people and sector leaders attend all with the same aim of wanting to see how they can best support those NEET with SEND. There is so much already being done but there is potential for so much more and we look forward to exploring further how we might be able to support this vital work and enable young people with SEND to feel valued, empowered and supported into education, training and the workplace. Thank you to all who attended and the start of collaborative and meaningful impact.'