What is Connexions?
Connexions is a support service for 13-19 year olds developed by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and young people themselves. It works alongside parents and carers to give young people the opportunity to fulfil their potential. It doesn’t replace the support that you give, but builds on it to make sure that your child gets the right information, advice and guidance to help them make choices about their future.
How can Connexions help my son/daughter?
Connexions aims to smooth a young person’s path through the challenges that face them, helping them to understand what is available to them as individuals. It does this by providing a range of services to young people, all of them free to access:
- Publications to help them make choices about their future;
- Connexions Centres, where they can find information about a wide range of issues important to them;
- Websites with information written specifically for young people.
- Specific support for young people with learning difficulties or disabilities;
- Personal Advisers, to provide personalised guidance and support to any young person who would like it.
Connexions also provides an Opportunities Plus Team, which advertises employment and training opportunities for 16-19 year olds. These can be found in Connexions Centres, schools and colleges, and online via the Help You Choose Website.
Connexions no longer run work experience placements. For information about work experience please contact The Exchange.
What does a Connexions Personal Adviser (PA) do?
PAs are there to listen to your son or daughter; to help them tackle any issues or worries in their lives that are affecting them now, and to help them plan for the future.
PAs provide services both in and outside school, and offer face-to-face contact or support by telephone, mobile or email. They have access to a wide range of information and they can bring in extra support through a wider network of specialist services. Working in partnership with a wide range of other agencies, PAs can offer support on:
- Making choices about careers and education
- Options for courses and training opportunities
- Health, relationships and sexuality
- Managing finances
- Leaving care
- Living with disability
- Housing issues
- Any other issue affecting your son or daughter
How can my son/daughter access Connexions?
Young people can contact a Personal Adviser in one of three ways. For more information click Contact Us.
- In School: Every school in Norfolk receives regular visits from a PA - ask a member of staff for more details.
- On the High Street: Contact your local Connexions Centre or Access Point. Click Connexions Centres in Norfolk to find us.
- By Phone, Text or Email: Connexions Direct is a national confidential advice service open between 8am and 2am every day. To find out how to speak to a trained Connexions Direct PA, click Connexions Direct.
- On the web: talkaboutyou.org is Connexions Norfolk's website for young people. It has information about life, money and staying healthy. helpyouchoose.org is the 14-19 prospectus for Norfolk. You can search all the courses, Apprenticeships and jobs for young people in Norfolk. You can also apply online for some of these courses and apprenticeships.
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