Employ My Ability

09/03/2026

More National Careers Week highlights!

Last week we had visits to Moreton from Haven, The Crumbs Project, NHS Dorset Reach Drug & Alcohol Services, and Dorset & Somerset Training Provider Network () all to share information on services, and career opportunities available to our young people, along with their own various jobs and career stories.

👏A huge thank you to all the professionals who stopped by to provide engaging sessions with our students. Even though National Careers Week has wrapped up, we still have more visits in our calendar!

07/03/2026

📣Calling Dorset parents, carers and young people - we are attending the Careers and Coffee SEND Session in Dorchester on Saturday 14th March and we encourage you to stop by!

We're joining a range of provisions in Dorset, coming together to offer free information about the opportunities we offer young people with SEND looking to take their next steps.

📍Dorchester Baptist Church
🕥Saturday 14th Mar - from 10:30 am to 11:30 am

We look forward to seeing you there! 😃

🎫Reserve your FREE ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/careers-and-coffee-dorchester-sen-friendly-tickets-1836921574879?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Dorset Council

06/03/2026

🟢 REMINDER! - Our Supported Internship Drop-In session takes place on Monday (9th March) at our partner venue The Red Lion, Poole. Stop by and meet with EMA staff to learn all about how our placements can help young people with SEND kick start their career in hospitality.

✅In partnership with Greene King, our Supported Internships enable the development of skills in an industry setting with a national employer, at your own pace, with support from a dedicated job coach.

Parents, carers, young people and SEND professionals welcome to this FREE event.

05/03/2026

📣Looking to learn more about EMA? Next week we will be attending The Careers and Apprenticeship show at the Bournemouth International Centre. Stop by on Thursday 12th March to meet EMA staff and discover the diverse range of educational pathways we offer for young people with SEND.

We'll also be joined by staff from EMA Social Care who will be sharing information about their support services and locations across Dorset.

We look forward to meeting you!

BCP Council

04/03/2026

As part of National Careers Week, Tom Gordon from Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust joined us at Moreton Village Hall, where he hosted an interactive workshop for our students, and current supported internships interns, giving them the opportunity to learn about the diverse range of jobs within the NHS.

🩺Students took part in team-based games and got hands-on with the simulation equipment, allowing them to learn about first aid and even life-saving techniques.

🗣Student Aaron, said: “It was a really eye-opening day. I was aware of some of the jobs already, but this showed me so much more. I made sure to put my hand up at the end to show my interest in learning more about what I can do next. I got to chat to Tom, who was friendly and helpful, and I’m hoping to visit the hospital soon to see it all for myself.”

🗣Student Jasmine said: “I got to practise chest compressions and it was such hard work! It was an amazing day though. I’m already thinking about the future and what jobs I'd like to go into. I'd like to make sure I know first aid so I can help out if someone is having a medical issue, it would be a good skill for me to have"

A huge thank you to Tom for spending the day with us. A brilliantly engaging session for both students and staff to learn more about careers in the NHS.✅

02/03/2026

👏Amazing work from Kody - stepping up yet again to help run events at Moreton.

As featured in The Walled Garden Moreton blog this month. Kody has been volunteering his time to help with Bug & Exotic Animal events - joining the Animal Care professionals in introducing the animals to members of the public during half-term in educational hands-on sessions.

This is not the first time Kody has helped out with an event, he has now completed four exotic animal events, speaking to groups of 20 people or more at a time, and also been a part of our Provider Access Events in December for the past two years running, representing EMA alongside our staff to parents, carers, and professionals. ✅

🗣️"When I first joined EMA I couldn’t imagine doing something where I had to speak to large groups of people or members of the public, but now it’s no problem at all and I love doing these. The more I do them the easier it gets. I love learning about the animals and sharing that knowledge, and it really helps with my anxiety. I’m very happy to do the events!” – Kody

👏

02/03/2026

📣It's National Careers Week and we have a busy few days which will allow our students to meet with professionals and explore their futures!

"This week a range of employers and services are joining us to talk about careers in their sectors and the next steps available to our students.

We always value visitors who support career learning, but this week our students are taking an even deeper dive into their potential futures. Through their 'All About Me' activities and interactive discussions, they’ll have the chance to explore work and talk openly about their aspirations. It will be an incredibly valuable week for us all!" - Shannon Ford, Career's Lead at EMA

We look forward to sharing a few highlights as the week goes on. 😃

National Careers Week |

25/02/2026

💼We're hiring at our Gillingham campus in North Dorset!

🌳Role: Learning Support Workers
✅Full-Time & Part-Time positions available

The supportive and enriching environment at EMA is shaped by our proactive, approachable, and forward-thinking team, and the LSWs are vital in enabling this ethos.😃

If this opportunity interests you, please take some time to review the full job description and person specification. They can be found on our website at the link below, along with the application form.

We look forward to hearing from you!

🔗https://employmyability.org.uk/job-learning-support-workers-gillingham-full-time-part-time/

25/02/2026

Ru’s Journey - Building focus, confidence, skills and independence at EMA ✅

Moreton student Ru, now in his second year at EMA, is a fantastic example of how personalised support can help young people with SEND prepare for adulthood, become more confident, and develop skills which can be applied in a work setting.

After time away from education, Ru’s transition to us was a big step for him, and with the support of our staff, he’s embraced college life. From working on maintaining his focus, gaining experience in the gardens building bird feeders and using a range of tools, to cooking meals from scratch in the training kitchen, and working front of house in the Dovecote Café, Ru continues to challenge himself and achieve his goals.

🗣“Seeing my son run in to start his day, whatever that may entail, lifts a smile to my face. For the first time in his ‘school’ life, we’ve found a team and placement of amazing, non‑judgemental individuals who welcome and encourage my son in ways not before experienced. I know he feels happy, safe and comfortable. He’s getting so much out of being at EMA” - Karen, Ru's mum.

We adapt our teaching and support to meet every student’s needs, helping them feel safe, and ready to learn. Read more about Ru's journey and his achievements over on our website:

🔗https://employmyability.org.uk/rus-journey-at-ema

24/02/2026

Thank you to staff from The Coach and Horses Wimborne for helping us host our first Greene King Supported Internship drop-in event today. Don't worry if you missed it - we're back here again on Thursday 19th March.

🗣"I started here part-time, and after 6 years I'm now a full-time assistant manager. This job has helped me develop in so many ways. We're very much a community pub, and we look forward to welcoming interns joining us to give them an opportunity to learn in our environment. For us, we see these placements as being beneficial to them, and our community here in Wimborne" - Mel

🗣"The internships resonate a lot with me, as I'm a parent to someone with autism, and seeing opportunities like this for people like him, makes me feel hopeful there's a decent pathway for young people in the future, as we need more of them. We're very happy to be involved" - Liam

We have two more Supported Internship drop-in events coming up.
🗓Monday 9th March at The Red Lion, Poole
🗓 Thursday 19th March, back to Coach and Horses Wimborne again.

Free to attend - parents, carers, young people and SEND professionals welcome.

✅For more details and to RSVP, please visit our website.

23/02/2026

🌳Discover EMA this week!🌳

🗓️Tomorrow (24th Feb) you can find us at The Coach and Horses in Wimborne talking all things Supported Internships!

🗓️Thursday 26th Feb - Stop by our community drop-in in Wareham at Not Just Sundaes to find out all about EMA and what we do for young people with SEND.

Both events are free to attend. Find out more details below!

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18/02/2026

📢Reminder! Our Supported Internship Drop-In at The Coach and Horses Wimborne takes place next Tuesday!

If you're interested in coming along to find out more, all details can be found below and on our website. We look forward to meeting you. 😃

EMA Supported Internships with Greene King at The Coach & Horses in Wimborne. Find out more at our drop-in sessions!