A DORSET charity is set to roll out a national programme helping people with special educational needs to become self-employed.

Bournemouth-based SAMEE – which stands for Support and Mentoring Enabling Entrepreneurship – devised the Steps Into Self-Employment programme, branded You’ve Got This!

The new, flexible programme, is based on work with people recognised as having special educational needs (SEN), including those with neuro-diverse challenges.

SAMEE chief executive Samantha Everard said: “The inclusive SAMEE Steps into Self-Employment programme has been created to cater for the needs of learners with SEN. As there is no maths and English element associated with the qualification, it’s accessible to all.

“This qualification offers a range of support and resources which can be specifically tailored to the individual requirements of each learner, providing solutions which are responsive and in keeping with the already established SAMEE ethos.”

SAMEE has been teaching self-employment skills to disabled adults, particularly those with learning disabilities, since 2016, through one-to-one guidance and peer mentoring.

The programme has been accredited by the awarding body and educational charity NCFE.

David Gallagher, chief executive of NCFE, said: “Through the tough economic times that we’ve started to experience this year with the cost of living crisis, we expect to see some real challenges in the labour market and, as such, self-employment, enterprise and entrepreneurship have never been more important.

“This important qualification will provide crucial recognition and a sense of achievement and I am looking forward to working with SAMEE to support and enable learners to benefit from this exciting new programme and to begin a new journey.”

Lea Hampton, employment and skills manager from One Horton Heath, an Eastleigh Borough Council initiative, has been working alongside SAMEE in developing the qualification.

He said: “Until now there has been a huge gap in championing self-employment as an option for people with SEN and learning disabilities. I became involved with SAMEE and the development of this qualification to help address this issue and am delighted that this qualification will now be available to people across the UK.

“It will not only help them to gain knowledge of how to run a business from start to end but also help them boost their confidence, improve mental health, gain financial independence and understand what work entails through taking ownership of a project.

“It will also provide them with transferrable skills, such as being a team member, leadership, communication, aiming high, becoming aspirational and making a positive contribution.”

Samantha Everard added: “There’s no formal entry requirements for the Steps into Self-Employment programme. The only thing we ask is that learners should possess communication skills sufficient to allow them to address the assessment requirements and be aged 16 or over.

“Assessment will be through the production of portfolio evidence, which is presented in the learner’s own communication style and can include visual, play dough, role play and written work.”

The official launch of the Steps into Self-Employment Level 1 qualification will take place in March 2023 with a week-long programme of activities.

For more information contact Samantha Everard on sam@samee.co.uk