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Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
A C-Card allows anyone aged 13 to 24 living in Devon and Torbay to access FREE condoms.
Please visit the “Are you OK?” website to learn more about abuse and violence within relationships
Learning for Life covers late primary, secondary, and beyond school, focusing on the Relationships and Sexual Education curriculum. The resources are created in line with what the Down's Syndrome community needs; teaching on personal health, emotions, relationships, and appropriate behaviour.
Sexting is a term often used to describe sharing this type of content but young people may refer to it as sending a ‘selfie or a ‘pic’. What you need to know from Think U Know
Find out about disabled parking in Torbay including how to get a Blue Badge or request a disabled parking bay.
Independent Travel Training is a free scheme which has been set up by Children’s Services at Torbay Council. Our Independent Travel Training programme provides targeted support for Children and Young People with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Our Trainer works with students from mainstream and special schools, education other than at school, and colleges of further education.
An IMCA is an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate appointed by the local authority and/or NHS body to protect other people’s interests when they lack the capacity to make certain important decisions and, at the time such decisions need to be made, have no one else (other than paid staff) to support them or be consulted.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a vitally important piece of legislation that applies within England and Wales and makes a real difference to the lives of people who may lack mental capacity. It empowers people to make decisions for themselves wherever possible, and protects people who lack capacity, by providing a flexible framework that places them at the very heart of the decision making process. It places a strong emphasis on supporting and enabling the individual to make his/her own decisions. If they are unable to do this it emphasises that they should be involved in the decision making process as far as possible.
This series of videos look at each of the Mental Capacity Act Principles in turn.
If you're aged 18 or older and have the mental ability to make financial, property and medical decisions for yourself, you can arrange for someone else to make these decisions for you in the future. This legal authority is called "Lasting Power of Attorney" (LPA).
Deprivation of Liberty mean taking away a person’s freedom to do things that they want to do and to live where they want to live.
The Devon Advocacy Service provides an independent advocacy service commissioned by Torbay for anyone who would experience substantial difficulty in participating in their assessment, preparation of their care and support plan and review (eg. due to difficulties with communication, including Deaf people with British Sign Language) and where there is no one available to support and represent their wishes.
Four Seasons provide work, employment and life skills training for people with disabilities. Our base at Lupton House provides an ideal, safe and supportive learning environment. We develop people’s skills using outdoor practical tasks, horticulture and grounds maintenance. Positioned in the tranquil, therapeutic setting of Lupton House which is a grade 2 listed building nestling in beautiful parkland on the outskirts of Brixham.
The course covers the following nine topics to help you with independent living:
Turning Heads is a community interest company that is helping to build a community that values and empowers togetherness.
We want you to live as independently as possible. You must decide what is right for you and consider where and who you want to live with.
The Torbay Council Housing advice service deal with enquiries from people who are in danger of becoming homeless to those who find themselves in the following situations:
You may decide that you would like to continue living with your family. To continue living at home you may need some changes to be made to the home, or you may need some extra support.
About to move out for the first time? Whether you’re moving into student accommodation or your own place, living away from home can be an eye opening and daunting experience. Home Truths is here to teach you EVERYTHING you need to know about living on your own.
This means renting from someone who owns a property. Some rents will be above the levels covered by housing benefit, so it is important to choose a property you can afford. Make sure you consider carefully how much you can pay when you are looking at properties. You should work out how much rent you can afford.
You can apply to join the waiting lists for a housing association property by registering with Devon Home Choice.
Having your own home can help you feel secure and independent.
Supported living can mean and be different things to different people.
In a ‘shared lives scheme’ someone is matched with a host family and lives as part of that family. They share family life and live with, or near to, the host family. The host family gives support and care.
For some people, residential care is more appropriate. This tends to be for young people with more complex needs, because of their physical need, health need or support with their challenging behaviour. Residential care means having a room in a building shared with a number of other people. Twenty four hour care will be provided on site as will meals. Specialist residential care homes may be considered after all other options for remaining at home have been explored and tried. Access to specialist residential care is based on an assessment of your needs by your Social Worker. Residential care means having a room in a building shared with a number of other people. Twenty four hour care will be provided on site as will meals. You will pay most of your benefits towards the cost of this care and be left with a small allowance. Residential homes are owned and managed by public, private sector or charitable bodies. Some specialise in particular forms of provision, for example for people on the autistic spectrum or those with sensory impairment in conjunction with a learning disability. NHS England has more information on care homes on their website.
It's gotten more expensive for providers to buy energy, which has led to it costing more for us to power our homes. This is why, at GoCompare, we have developed an interactive energy cost calculator tool to find out how much something costs to run.
Illegal money lenders or loan sharks as they are more commonly known are criminals and they will lend money to almost anyone at extortionately high interest rates (100% a week is the norm) and will use a variety of tactics such as intimidation, harassment, threats and violence to ensure that the borrower continues to pay with no end date to the loan.
Explore what financial support you can get through welfare benefits and grants based on your circumstances.
Short reletively simple e-learning cources on:
People with learning disabilities often have poorer physical and mental health than other people. This doesn’t need to be the case.
High goals are important to success.
This flowchart will help you understand the moving towards adulthood pathway.
In Torbay, when young people move from childhood to adulthood, this is known as a ‘Transition’. We recognise this can be a daunting time for young people and their carers.
The Year 9 annual review of your young person’s Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) is very important and begins the preparation for adulthood. This is the time to start thinking about:
Great reviews start with great preparation - to find out what is needed watch this animate for more information.
CSW Group provides free information, advice, guidance and support to people of all ages to help them to enter work and learning.
Please see Post 16 Educational Opportunities which is a related topic on Moving towards Adulthood and can also be found at Post 16 Educational Opportunities.
Extra help or adjustments to exams are called 'Access Arrangements'.
For young people with an EHCP, your young person’s Year 10 annual review will revisit the ideas first made in the Year 9 Preparing for Adulthood plan.
This flowchart will help you understand the moving towards adulthood pathway.
In Torbay, when young people move from childhood to adulthood, this is known as a ‘Transition’. We recognise this can be a daunting time for young people and their carers.
CSW Group provides free information, advice, guidance and support to people of all ages to help them to enter work and learning.
Please see Post 16 Educational Opportunities which is a related topic on Moving towards Adulthood and can also be found at Post 16 Educational Opportunities.
Extra help or adjustments to exams are called 'Access Arrangements'.
This is a very important year for your young person. Decisions, building on the research started in Year 10, will need to be made. Your young person will now need to think about the type of course they want to do and how that links to their future career path.
This flowchart will help you understand the moving towards adulthood pathway.
Children and young people with special educational needs may get help with transport to school or college. Once a young person reaches 16 they may be asked to pay towards some of the cost of the transport. For further information please contact the Transport Team on 01803 207688 or email cstransport@torbay.gov.uk. Independent Travel training may be available from some colleges and 6th Forms.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a legal framework for acting and making decisions on behalf of individuals who lack the mental capacity to make particular decisions for themselves. Everyone caring for, or working with, an adult who may lack capacity to make specific decisions must comply with the Act when making decisions or acting for that person, when the person lacks the capacity to make a particular decision for themselves. The same rules apply whether the decisions are life changing or everyday matters.
CSW Group provides free information, advice, guidance and support to people of all ages to help them to enter work and learning.
As young people with special educational needs and/or a disability turn 16, 17, 18 or 19, they become entitled to benefits and support in their own right. What they are entitled to may or may not depend on whether they are still in education, are job seeking or claiming benefits.
Please see Post 16 Educational Opportunities which is a related topic on Moving towards Adulthood and can also be found at Post 16 Educational Opportunities.
This video has been created by local Children and Young People.
Since September 2015 all young people must participate in some form of education or training until they are 18. However, unlike the requirement to attend school up to the age of 16, it is the young person’s responsibility to arrange this and not the Local Authorities duty.
Study programmes are further education courses that can help you gain the skills you need to go on in to further education, get a job or become more independent.
There are lots of courses of different levels available. The aim of every course, no matter what level, should be about making progress in developing new skills. Every course is designed to help you get a qualification or reach an outcome at the end of it. There is a starting point for everyone. At the start of any course you should be aware of what the qualification or outcomes you hope to achieve by the end of the course. Achieving your qualification may be a combination of coursework, module assessment or end of year exam. Your tutor will be able to guide you through this process.
Young people aged 16-19 may be able to claim money (a bursary) for you or your college/training provider to use to meet the cost of clothing, equipment or lunch on study days.
There are several different types of work-based learning that give you the opportunity to train and get qualifications while working. For some young people going into a work environment suits them better than staying just in the classroom.
It is possible for parents/carers to claim child benefit for a young person after their 16th birthday if they continue in full-time approved education or training. This includes traineeships but not apprenticeships. The Child Benefit Office must be informed otherwise payments will stop on 31st August. For full details go to Claim Child Benefit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Local Supported Internships for young people aged between 17 and 20 have taken place in various employment settings and in various job roles - these have included working as a Sales Assistant, Hospital Porter, Ward Clerk, Cleaner, Ward Buddy, Tyre Mechanic, Waiter, Chef.
This toolkit has been developed to acknowledge that at Post 16 education some tools are applied differently and the setting in which young people learn is also different.
Torbay Young Carers Service are a friendly team based within Torbay Council’s Children’s Services. We provide a range of support and opportunities to young people who are in, or likely to take on a caring role.
A referral can be made to the appropriate health and social care team for all young people moving into Adult Services. Staff from Children’s and Adult Services will work together, sharing information about young people aged between 14 and 18 who are supported by Children’s Services.
CSW Group provides free information, advice, guidance and support to people of all ages to help them to enter work and learning.
The service is provided to adults who have a wide range of communication disorders, as follows:
Please see our dedicated page relating to young adults aged 19 – 25.
The course covers the following nine topics to help you with independent living:
If you are a new or expectant parent who is feeling overwhelmed, stressed or struggling with anxiety, help is available. TALKWORKS is a free, NHS talking therapies service, here to help you get back to feeling like yourself again. The service is open to adults, aged 18+, living in Torbay and across the whole of Devon (outside Plymouth, which is covered by Plymouth options). TALKWORKS offers a priority service to new and expectant parents, so that they can access support as quickly as possible.
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression. Find out more about Makaton here.
Local Supported Internships for young people aged between 17 and 20 have taken place in various employment settings and in various job roles - these have included working as a Sales Assistant, Hospital Porter, Ward Clerk, Cleaner, Ward Buddy, Tyre Mechanic, Waiter, Chef.
This toolkit has been developed to acknowledge that at Post 16 education some tools are applied differently and the setting in which young people learn is also different.
Extra help or adjustments to exams are called 'Access Arrangements'.
The service is provided to adults who have a wide range of communication disorders, as follows:
Please see our dedicated page relating to young adults aged 19 – 25.
For young people with an EHCP, your young person’s Year 10 annual review will revisit the ideas first made in the Year 9 Preparing for Adulthood plan.
This is a very important year for your young person. Decisions, building on the research started in Year 10, will need to be made. Your young person will now need to think about the type of course they want to do and how that links to their future career path.
Since September 2015 all young people must participate in some form of education or training until they are 18. However, unlike the requirement to attend school up to the age of 16, it is the young person’s responsibility to arrange this and not the Local Authorities duty.
The course covers the following nine topics to help you with independent living:
The transition into adulthood from 14 to 18 years of age is an important time in the lives of young people.
If you are a new or expectant parent who is feeling overwhelmed, stressed or struggling with anxiety, help is available. TALKWORKS is a free, NHS talking therapies service, here to help you get back to feeling like yourself again. The service is open to adults, aged 18+, living in Torbay and across the whole of Devon (outside Plymouth, which is covered by Plymouth options). TALKWORKS offers a priority service to new and expectant parents, so that they can access support as quickly as possible.
Torbay Young Carers Service are a friendly team based within Torbay Council’s Children’s Services. We provide a range of support and opportunities to young people who are in, or likely to take on a caring role.
A referral can be made to the appropriate health and social care team for all young people moving into Adult Services. Staff from Children’s and Adult Services will work together, sharing information about young people aged between 14 and 18 who are supported by Children’s Services.
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression. Find out more about Makaton here.
High goals are important to success.
This flowchart will help you understand the moving towards adulthood pathway.
In Torbay, when young people move from childhood to adulthood, this is known as a ‘Transition’. We recognise this can be a daunting time for young people and their carers.
Study programmes are further education courses that can help you gain the skills you need to go on in to further education, get a job or become more independent.
This flowchart will help you understand the moving towards adulthood pathway.
There are lots of courses of different levels available. The aim of every course, no matter what level, should be about making progress in developing new skills. Every course is designed to help you get a qualification or reach an outcome at the end of it. There is a starting point for everyone. At the start of any course you should be aware of what the qualification or outcomes you hope to achieve by the end of the course. Achieving your qualification may be a combination of coursework, module assessment or end of year exam. Your tutor will be able to guide you through this process.
The Year 9 annual review of your young person’s Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) is very important and begins the preparation for adulthood. This is the time to start thinking about:
Children and young people with special educational needs may get help with transport to school or college. Once a young person reaches 16 they may be asked to pay towards some of the cost of the transport. For further information please contact the Transport Team on 01803 207688 or email cstransport@torbay.gov.uk. Independent Travel training may be available from some colleges and 6th Forms.
Great reviews start with great preparation - to find out what is needed watch this animate for more information.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a legal framework for acting and making decisions on behalf of individuals who lack the mental capacity to make particular decisions for themselves. Everyone caring for, or working with, an adult who may lack capacity to make specific decisions must comply with the Act when making decisions or acting for that person, when the person lacks the capacity to make a particular decision for themselves. The same rules apply whether the decisions are life changing or everyday matters.
CSW Group provides free information, advice, guidance and support to people of all ages to help them to enter work and learning.
Young people aged 16-19 may be able to claim money (a bursary) for you or your college/training provider to use to meet the cost of clothing, equipment or lunch on study days.
As young people with special educational needs and/or a disability turn 16, 17, 18 or 19, they become entitled to benefits and support in their own right. What they are entitled to may or may not depend on whether they are still in education, are job seeking or claiming benefits.
There are several different types of work-based learning that give you the opportunity to train and get qualifications while working. For some young people going into a work environment suits them better than staying just in the classroom.
Please see Post 16 Educational Opportunities which is a related topic on Moving towards Adulthood and can also be found at Post 16 Educational Opportunities.
It is possible for parents/carers to claim child benefit for a young person after their 16th birthday if they continue in full-time approved education or training. This includes traineeships but not apprenticeships. The Child Benefit Office must be informed otherwise payments will stop on 31st August. For full details go to Claim Child Benefit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Local Supported Internships for young people aged between 17 and 20 have taken place in various employment settings and in various job roles - these have included working as a Sales Assistant, Hospital Porter, Ward Clerk, Cleaner, Ward Buddy, Tyre Mechanic, Waiter, Chef.
This video has been created by local Children and Young People.
Independent Travel Training is a free scheme which has been set up by Children’s Services at Torbay Council. Our Independent Travel Training programme provides targeted support for Children and Young People with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Our Trainer works with students from mainstream and special schools, education other than at school, and colleges of further education.
The service is provided to adults who have a wide range of communication disorders, as follows:
If you are a new or expectant parent who is feeling overwhelmed, stressed or struggling with anxiety, help is available. TALKWORKS is a free, NHS talking therapies service, here to help you get back to feeling like yourself again. The service is open to adults, aged 18+, living in Torbay and across the whole of Devon (outside Plymouth, which is covered by Plymouth options). TALKWORKS offers a priority service to new and expectant parents, so that they can access support as quickly as possible.
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression. Find out more about Makaton here.
Four Seasons provide work, employment and life skills training for people with disabilities. Our base at Lupton House provides an ideal, safe and supportive learning environment. We develop people’s skills using outdoor practical tasks, horticulture and grounds maintenance. Positioned in the tranquil, therapeutic setting of Lupton House which is a grade 2 listed building nestling in beautiful parkland on the outskirts of Brixham.
CSW Group provides free information, advice, guidance and support to people of all ages to help them to enter work and learning.
Courses in English and Maths, up to GCSE level are usually free. Other further education courses are free until the age of 19, up to level 3. However, if your child has an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP), their course may be fully funded until they are 25 years old, if the course meets the targets outlined in their plan and the course is below level 4.
Many young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) progress to higher education, however it is not possible to have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) at University. Those who require additional support and may incur extra costs as a result of their disability, may be eligible for a Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). The financial support offered is based on individual need not household income and does not have to be repaid.
Supported Internships are work-based learning placements within mainstream employment settings. The aim is to secure a job at the end of the placement. Placements should last over 6 months and normally would be at least 20 hours per week.
Torbay Council launched its Supported Internship programme in Autumn 2025, in partnership with South Devon College, Brunel School and Coombe Pafford.
Into Apprenticeships is a guide for disabled people, parents and key advisers about applying for apprenticeships in England. It deals with common questions such as how to find an apprenticeship, whether the training will be accessible and what support is available in the workplace.
Read the gov.uk guide and find out how apprenticeships work, what you'll get and how to apply
Local Supported Internships for young people aged between 17 and 20 have taken place in various employment settings and in various job roles - these have included working as a Sales Assistant, Hospital Porter, Ward Clerk, Cleaner, Ward Buddy, Tyre Mechanic, Waiter, Chef.
