Move On Up is a National Lottery Community Fund funded project that will provide early support to 290 young people with learning disabilities and autistic young people in Leeds and Bradford leaving school, college and young people’s services, empowering them to transition successfully to adult community services. The project will run until the end of April 2025.

The project has four strands:

• Work in partnership with local schools, colleges and young people’s services to deliver interactive and creative Transition Groups that will focus on topics which equip young people with new life skills, so they transition to adult services feeling confident, with increased self-esteem and independence.
• Provide one-to-one support to young people who need longer-term, holistic support to transition to adult services.
• Work with partner organisations to train young people with learning disabilities and autistic young people to become Buddies, so young people attending taster sessions are supported by a peer.
• Support parents, families and carers by offering advice, information and guidance about community activities and funding arrangements.

We have recruited a Project Manager (Hannah) and Project Assistant (Roisin), who are working with Fran, our Chief Executive Officer, to bring Move On Up to life! We are currently in the planning stages: developing workshops, getting in touch with partner organisations and preparing to start delivery later in the academic year.

If you are an organisation that works with adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic people and you are interested in being part of Move On Up, or would like more information on the project, please get in touch with Hannah, Projects Manager, by emailing hannah@purplepatcharts.org .