COASTAL Project (City & County of Swansea / RPFfSWW)

The project is aimed at the promotion of vocational guidance, employment, skills training and lifelong learning opportunities for individuals who are currently economically inactive as a result of illness, disability, (Mental Illness, Learning Disability, Physical Disability, Sensory Impairment) substance misuse problems and/or the serious social disadvantage associated with the transition from long-term care into adulthood.

The COASTAL Project is a Regional Strategic Project covering the local authority areas of Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

The Creating Opportunities And Skills Teams, ('COAST's), one in each LA area, will work in collaboration with a range of external service providers, as part of the Creating Opportunities And Skills Teams Alliance, ('COASTAL), to achieve a strategic, consistent and equitable regional approach to the delivery of services to support individuals with serious and enduring illness and/or disability to gain their maximum potential in respect of skill acquisition, employability and economic activity.

A process of detailed and comprehensive assessment of need will be offered to each individual participant. This will result in an Individual Programme which will detail the support required in order to assist the participant to overcome the identified barriers to their engagement in learning, training and employment. Project staff will then provide, or organise access to, the required support to meet the participants needs, including access to appropriate education/skills training, supported employment or work experience, support with job applications, CV writing, interview skills etc.. The support will continue for as long as the participant requires it, up to a maximum of 12 months post employment.

The Project will also offer support, advice and guidance to employers, in order to raise awareness of illness and disability issues and to assist them in engaging with and, hopefully employing, project participants.