Charity shop in Salford offers SEN students valuable work experience

A charity shop in Salford Quays has been offering students with special education needs work experience. 

The offered experience will be open to students from Oakwood Academy, Eccles, a school for children aged 9-19 with special educational needs.

The school has spent the last three years offering vital work experience to their students through their community store.

The store in the Quayside Shopping Centre opened following lockdown and was used as a facility to reduce social isolation following the pandemic. 

The Oakwood Academy charity shop is offering students over the age of 15 placements, and providing lessons in a classroom behind the store for those on the course.

Work experience offered to the students will include a variety of roles, such as greeting customers at the door, organising stock and processing purchases at the main desk.

With the store selling donated items that include a variety of second-hand items, vintage children’s books, designer clothing and jewelry.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) students of Oakwood Academy will be offered the opportunity to gain valuable experience before entering the workforce.

The shop will be open six days a week, allowing a large number of students to gain valuable experience before entering the workforce. 

Carla Horton, who oversees the retail course at the academy, said: “They’re very supported here to find what they’re comfortable with and good at.” 

And described the scheme as “really beneficial” to the SEN students’ employment prospects, as well as a great way to build their confidence in a working environment.

The scheme seems to have a positive benefit for the students, with one gaining experience to find employment at Selfridges.

And another student was able to achieve and internship at the charity shop after leaving the academy, and is now a “really happy” full-time employee.

The work and experience offered to the SEN students seem to be very beneficial – and the store seems to be leading them in a positive direction.

More information about the Oakwood Academy charity shop can be found on their Instagram page.