In a world where inclusion remains a significant challenge, John Lyon's Charity (JLC) is taking a bold step forward with a substantial investment aimed at empowering young people with disabilities. Announced through their latest report, A New Perspective, JLC is dedicating half a million pounds to enhance career opportunities and support systems for disabled youth as they transition from education into the workforce. This initiative is not just a financial commitment but a powerful statement towards creating more inclusive pathways in the arts and cultural sectors.

Since its inception in 1991, JLC has been a beacon of support for children and young people in London, using educational opportunities to transform lives. Their new report, part of the ongoing Perspective series, highlights the critical need for investment in accessible arts and cultural programmes for D/deaf, visually impaired, disabled, and neurodivergent young people.

The Findings

The report emerges from extensive discussions with special schools, charities, and arts organisations, revealing a significant gap in employment opportunities for disabled youth. This gap is particularly stark in the arts sector, where a staggering 75% of special schools interviewed estimated that less than 10% of career pathways are available.

The research underscores some sobering statistics:

42% of UK adults believe the traditional education-to-career pathway is ineffective for individuals who are D/deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent.

58% of UK decision-makers are either unsure of or do not offer career opportunities for these individuals within their companies.

The main barriers identified include:

Lack of understanding of appropriate needs (34%)

Lack of opportunities (33%)

Discrimination from companies (28%)

These findings reflect the broader reality captured by recent data from the House of Commons, showing a 27.9 percentage point gap between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people.

Dr Lynne Guyton, CEO of John Lyon's Charity, expressed a sentiment many of us share: "This just isn’t good enough." The charity's new initiative aims to challenge policymakers, funders, arts organisations, and businesses to critically evaluate their inclusivity practices and question whether they are truly doing enough to support individuals with learning and access needs.

Through its Home-School-Community Strategy, which was initially a response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis, JLC is not just funding but actively crafting a blueprint for best practices. This includes increasing inclusive work opportunities in the arts sector and providing capacity-building sessions for arts organisations keen on creating more inclusive environments.

To bring these plans to fruition, JLC is collaborating with Pursuing Independent Paths (PIP), which will support both arts organisations and the young individuals they host. This partnership aims to ensure the success of internship placements, providing a real-world model of how inclusive practices can be implemented effectively.

A testament to the success of such initiatives is Shardonnay Roseman, a student at PIP who secured an internship as an Office Assistant at John Lyon's Charity. Reflecting on her experience, Shardonnay said, "Through JLC’s internship, I have gained valuable experience welcoming guests and organising daily office operations. I’m lucky to have this opportunity, but many others like me need similar chances."