WALK PEER Programme - Bridging the Gap

The Dormant Accounts Fund, Department of Education and Walk

WALK PEER - Providing Equal Employment Routes

WALK PEER is a Supported Transition programme collaborating with partner schools to support school leavers, with additional educational needs, to bridge the gap to mainstream further education, training and employment.

How we do it

Careers & Employment Facilitators (CEF) work with students in their final two years of school to develop ambitious and sustainable post school transition plans. For those students who choose to transition to mainstream further education, training, and/or employment the CEF continues mentoring and supporting them for three years after school.

Walk Peer Journey

Engage with Career & Employment Facilitator.
Have positive expectations.
Progress to Career Preparation.
Get Work Experience.
Consider Options.
Get Support with Transition to Further Education or Job.
Develop and Sustain skills with Support.

Your Future Job will be a combination of your skills, your interests and your talents.

Evaluate, Explore and Experience and Have a Good Life.

Our Purpose

  • To support you to make a successful post school transition of your choice.
  • To enable you to sustain your mainstream post school pathway.
  • To help you prepare for, find and stay in paid employment

 

PASTEL Study: Progressing Accessible Supported Transitions to Employment Longitudinal Study

Dr. Geraldine Scanlon & Dr. Alison Doyle Institute of Education, Dublin City University

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the WALK PEER Supported Transition model under Action 1.5 of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015-2024).

Its purpose was to explore the concept of this Supported Transition model which, in line with international practice, facilitates the aspirations and voices of young people with special educational needs on issues that are critical to their well-being, through a client-centred approach. Building on the findings from the PASTE report (Scanlon & Doyle 2018), this study captures the experiences of all stakeholders participating in a pilot of the WALK PEER programme in seven special schools and three mainstream post primary schools in several geographical areas in the Republic of Ireland; these stakeholders being senior cycle students, their parents and guardians, school staff, employers, and WALK PEER Careers and Employment Facilitators. The project tested the concept of supported transition through validation of the WALK PEER model and evaluates this against transitions to life-long HSE funded “day services”. The project is funded by the Department of Education from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Full Report: PASTEL Study: Progressing Accessible Supported Transitions to Employment Longitudinal Study

Carrie's Story

What people say about PEER

  • Participant
    Having my CEF support me throughout school into a job and now in college has really helped me in my career so far. I am now in OFI College completing my Multi-media Games and VR L5 course. I don’t think I would be doing all of this without WALK PEER. Thank you.
  • St Brigid’s School - Dundalk (Deputy Principal)
    WALK PEER has empowered both our students and staff in a supportive role, focusing on the development of employment skills through work site visits, work placements and one to one sessions. Over the years our students have benefited and experienced success through this initiative and we have easily embedded it into our Senior Cycle curriculum and school ethos.
  • Parent
    As a young adult with a disability my daughter had never really been asked what her dreams and aspirations were until she started the WALK PEER programme. I am delighted to say my daughter is going to college in September with all the supports she needs in place to do something she wants to do for a career, and it’s all down to the WALK PEER programme and seeing my child and her potential and not just her disability.

Find Out More

The WALK PEER Programme is currently funded as a pilot Supported Transitions project by the Department of Education, through the Dormant Accounts fund, to support senior students in 10 partner schools (7 special schools and 3 post-primary schools) around Ireland.

Email peerprogramme@walk.ie | Follow us WALK PEER | LinkedIn

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