Building Futures
Building Futures is a full-time informal education programme for adults with learning disabilities and autism.
Are you ready to embark on a life-changing journey of learning, development and possibilities? Are you looking to learn new skills, gain qualifications, make friends and get ready for adulthood?
You’re in the right place.
About Building Futures
Tailored Learning Experince
Every aspect of the programme is tailored to the individual strengths, needs, and aspirations of our learners, creating a personalised and supportive environment.
Learners receive vibrant, high-quality learning sessions in small groups, delivered throughout the week in community spaces across Guildford, Woking, and the surrounding areas.
Person-centred planning has become increasingly prominent across our sector, but it has always been at the heart of Building Futures. Through running dedicated PCP sessions where young people work on and track their own SMART short and long term goals our supported adults are able to ensuring their voice and ambitions guide their journey.
Our dedicated Team
Our highly qualified teaching staff are supported by a wonderful team of volunteers and partners who generously give their time to make Building Futures the success it is today.
We work as one team, not just as a class. Everyone learns and achieves together, supports one another, and grows in confidence through shared experiences. At Building Futures, we are united by the belief that learning is most powerful when it’s collaborative.
Building your future
Building Futures is more than just an innovative approach to learning, it’s about preparing young people for life beyond the classroom. Our programme is designed to help learners build the confidence, independence, and practical skills they need to take their next steps.
Through a varied and engaging curriculum, young people take part in activities that support their development and help them explore future pathways. From meaningful work experience with our fantastic local partners to regular sessions focused on teamwork, wellbeing, and healthy living.
Opportunities include:
Our sessions
The programme runs for 49 weeks a year, 4 days a week, with options to use a fifth day for personal goals such as volunteering, work, 1:1 support etc...
While we follow the educational term calendar, we also offer optional holiday activities chosen by the young people themselves, keeping the programme dynamic, youth-led, and relevant year-round.
Our sessions cover essential topics that young people often want or need to explore further. These include our weekly relationships sessions, where we discuss everything from friendships and romantic relationships to evolving family dynamics and social media interactions.
Expanding Horizons
We now run our Year A-C programme concurrently in Guildford and Woking. We intentionally refer to these as Year A, Year B, and Year C to distinguish ourselves from traditional educational structures.
While most young people join us in Year A, our approach is flexible — it’s important to us that individuals don’t feel they need to progress through the year groups in a linear sequence.
For example, some young people may move on after just one year, having used their skills to secure other jobs or supported work opportunities. Others may join us in Year B if we feel, developmentally, it’s a better fit for their goals.
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About Our Sessions
Work Experience
Work and independence are another key theme, explored through weekly group work experience with our fantastic local partnership organisations, and our Wider World sessions.
Healthy Living Focus
We also then focus on a healthy lifestyle, confidence building, teamwork (and related occupation and independence) through healthy living, team time, and outdoor learning sessions.
Year-Round Service
We follow educational term dates, but then offer optional holiday activities (often picked by young people). This means we run service for 49 weeks of the year.
Funding Required
Please note, there is a cost for this programme, making it suitable for individuals with personal funding or a personal budget.
of adults with learning disabilities, known to their local councils, are in paid employment. (MENCAP)
of autistic individuals report feeling poorly supported during their education (GOV)
million people with learning disabilities in the UK (GOV)
Our Outcomes
We view our outcomes as the genuine real life changes that people make with us, or after they leave our programme. We are trying to build their futures. Some example outcomes for young people have included…
Work
Further Learning and Life Skills
Living
Social and Confidence
Get in touch to access our Building Futures education programme
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