The Leighton Project - A Case Study

Student 1
An 18 year old Muslim female has had the opportunity to participate in work experience for Mail Out at the Camden Society.  This involved her being out in the community, working closely with a multi-cultural group of male and females, at the same time gaining skills needed in everyday life.  Although partially paralysed, she has not allowed her disability to get in the way of her learning. This work also provided her with the opportunity to improve upon her social skills whilst building up her confidence and self esteem.

This student has continued with her personal fitness programme at Fresh Gym, which she now enthusiastically participates in.  The trainer has worked with her to strengthen and rehabilitate her damaged muscles.

Since working at Mail Out this student has been keen to start a new work placement and is now prepared to travel to her job independently. 

She is now confident enough to help less able students with their ITC and Literacy skills.

Student 2
A 25 year old autistic student has participated in two different work placements.  The second one involves working at City Farm, which he has been doing competently for a whole term.  At the start of his work experience he did not travel independently. However, over the last couple of weeks he has been travel trained by our Work Placement Officer and is now confident to walk back to College by himself.

This young man participated in a short drama sketch at the recent AGM, which was attended by the Mayor of Camden.  He has had the opportunity to take part in two art workshops, one at the Serpentine Gallery and the other at the Camden Arts Centre.

This students’ goals at College are to communicate and behave appropriately.  He no longer talks to strangers on the bus and enjoys participating in activities as part of a group. 

Student 3
An 18 year old man from Uganda started at the Leighton Project with very little skill at communicating.  Staff use their Makaton training, and encourage all the students to communicate with the help of this sign language.  He is now far more able to let staff know his needs and understand instructions and be understood.  He makes good use of the Mobile library and borrows DVDs and videos to watch and improve his English.  He is supported at the Leighton Project by a speech therapist who visits him once a fortnight.

This young man has had the opportunity to participate in a workshop at the London Symphony Orchestra and will be attending these once a month from now on.  He is not only learning about the orchestra but has a unique chance to hold and play a variety of classical instruments.

When this student started at the Leighton Project he walked quite a long distance to College, not confident to use public transport.  He has now been fully travelled trained and catches the bus to and from College independently.

His culinary skills have improved to such an extent that we were able to secure him a work placement at Flapjack Café where he expertly followed instructions to chop vegetables, make soup and prepare jacket potatoes and salad, amongst other general tasks.  He also learnt a valuable lesson about food hygiene. The feedback received from the café has encouraged us to seek a possible progression within the catering industry for him.

Follow this link to return to The Leighton Project page.

Back to top of page