Social Enterprise Work Placements and Workshops
Social enterprise work placements delivered by Autism Initiatives give autistic young people real work experience in supportive environments, helping them build confidence, skills and independence.
Employment
Only 3 in 10 autistic adults are in paid employment of any kind compared to 5 in 10 of all disabled people and 8 in 10 of non-disabled people.
A 2024 Government report also finds that autistic people have the largest pay gap of all people with disabilities, and many are underemployed, meaning they work fewer hours or are in roles below their skill level.
Social Enterprise Placements & Workshops
There are three social enterprise offers located in Sefton. Each enterprise has a different business focus and identity, which means there is a wide range of activities accessed within a fully supported real work environment.
- Discover our award-winning café A Great Little Place within The Atkinson, Southport
- Find out more about MeCycle Café & Bike Workshop located in the heart of Ainsdale
- Explore WeGrow our award-winning ‘green’ enterprise growing and selling vegetables, herbs and free range eggs
How Social Enterprise Placements Work
Working with young people, family and schools, social enterprise within Autism Initiatives delivers an exciting range of supported work placements, which are bespoke. The work experience young people gain increases their confidence and self-esteem, their health and wellbeing, builds connections and is shown to improve school attendance and engagement in a variety of activities.
After making a successful referral, we meet with every potential young person to make sure we can meet their needs. If everyone is happy to proceed, we will work together to develop an autism specific placement for them. This is fixed term, can last for up to a couple of years, and can be tailored and supported by fully trained staff who also have additional practice support.
How Social Enterprise Workshops Work
These one-off taster sessions are designed to provide real work experience. Young people can learn to work as part of a team to complete projects and gain new experiences in a relaxed, fun environment.
Social Enterprise Placements
Funding is required to access social enterprise work placements. This can come from local authorities, education establishments, or can be self-funded.
Workshops are currently funded by the Youth Empowerment Scheme and are free to access.
Social Enterprise Report
Our latest Social Enterprise Report highlights the challenges autistic adults still face in finding meaningful employment and the importance of creating accessible opportunities for long-term career development. The report explores key employment statistics, workplace barriers, and the support needed for autistic individuals to reach their full potential.
It also showcases the positive impact of our social enterprise programmes through real success stories, training opportunities, and supported employment pathways. Discover how these initiatives are helping young people build confidence, develop valuable skills, and achieve their personal and professional goals.
We've helped people... and we can help you too
If you would like to know more about each of the individual social enterprises, please visit the micro-sites accessible via the main menu to learn more.
“J has loved every minute of your fantastic opportunity. Ewe and every member of the Team have been ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, they have gone out of their way to make J feel at home, totally at ease and supported, she has learned new skills and been given new challenges and experiences, some of which were out of her comfort zone but she has grabbed these opportunities with both hands and thoroughly enjoyed them. After each session J would come home so happy, motivated, enthusiastic and looking forward to the next one.'