News

A football fan with learning disabilities from the Seashell Trust has been given a shot at working for MCFC's City in the Community – with the long-term goal of finding employment and independence.

The Premier League side has signed 21-year-old Royal College Manchester student Ryan Doxey on a work placement for four months through City in the Community (CITC).

Ryan has severe learning difficulties and is a non-verbal communicator, but he has developed some literacy and numeracy skills. He can use a computer to copy type, read and follow step-by-step instructions. He enjoys working with colleagues and helping others.

Ryan can hear and understand most of what is said but uses a combination of sign language, visual symbols and an ipad to communicate with others.

According to the Office for National Statistics only seven per cent of people with a learning disability are in paid employment. When Ryan leaves college this year, having workplace experience and transferable skills will be vital.

Marian Fahy, Work Experience Co-ordinator at Seashell Trust, said: “Ryan is a keen City fan, always has been. We are hoping to support Ryan, a final year student, into paid employment. Ryan is hoping to move to his own house, gain paid and voluntary work with leisure activities.”

Ryan has previously worked at Tatton Park, helping with ground maintenance. He has an ongoing placement as a volunteer at Stepping Hill Hospital, one morning a week, serving drinks on wards or running errands. He has recently started another placement with Sodexo in the café at Astra Zeneca.

Marian added: “Ryan is a student on Seashell’s supported internship programme based in the Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, where he and other students complete a range of work skills activities. Now he will be doing caretaking and cleaning tasks at the Etihad Stadium in east Manchester. He will be there two or three hours a day, one day a week.”

Mike Green, Head of City in the Community said: “Manchester City believes work experience is a vital part of every young person’s life and City in the Community are looking forward to welcoming Ryan into the team.”

Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson recently praised internships for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

He said: “I want to see more supported internships and work placements... to offer a first step onto the career ladder. It’s absolutely vital young people with SEND are supported in the transition to the workplace when they finish education. We want to help young people develop the best skills to succeed.”

Bernie White, Director of Education at Seashell Trust-run Royal College Manchester, said: “When students leave, we want to them have as independent a life as possible, Ryan has demonstrated that he has a lot to offer in the work place and it is our responsibility to help him achieve his ambitions as he leaves full-time education.”

Paul Kelly, disability coordinator at City in the Community, will be delivering a six-week football training course at Seashell Trust, giving staff the skills and confidence to run football session with students with complex needs and disabilities.