Employ My Ability

14/11/2025

JOB: Animal Care Technician – Maternity Cover – Fixed Term for 12 months

We're looking for an Animal Care Technician to join our team at The Walled Garden Moreton to help care for a variety of animals while supporting young people with SEND to gain hands-on skills and confidence.

For full job details and application form, please visit our website.
🔗https://employmyability.org.uk/animal-care-technician-maternity-cover/

12/11/2025

🌳 Supported Internships at EMA are designed for young people aged 16–24 with an EHCP who are ready to take their next step towards employment.

We’re proud to partner with prominent employers - including Greene King, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Dorset Community Action to offer meaningful, supported opportunities in the workplace.

Through hands-on work placements and tailored learning, our interns gain real experience, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to move into paid work.
With guidance from EMA’s job coaches and tutors, every intern is supported to achieve their goals, grow in independence, and prepare for a successful future in the industry they want.

With a rolling intake, applications are open now, so get in touch to find out more about how a supported internship can help you find your future.

|Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Dorset Community Action

07/11/2025

🌳Read Taryn's story - from education, to independence, and employment.

🔗https://employmyability.org.uk/taryns-journey/

Taryn's journey is a prime example of how education, supported living, and meaningful employment can come together in helping young adults develop confidence, independence, and a strong sense of purpose. From a shy student in 2019 to becoming a capable, self-reliant young adult with a thriving career and independent lifestyle, Taryn’s story is one of true success - both for him and for everyone who has supported him along the way, and we're proud to share it.

EMA Social Care | GreenCare | Dorset Community Action

04/11/2025

Pop-Up Cafés – bringing skills and people together!

👩‍🍳 The hospitality training space at EMA in Gillingham is equipped with all the front-of-house and kitchen facilities students need. We’ve adapted the kitchen to better support teaching, including the addition of a central island for group work and a new shelving area to make ingredients more accessible. More recently, we’ve widened the doorways to accommodate wheelchair users and installed an adjustable-height worktop in the kitchen.

🍽 Every week at Gillingham, the campus hosts a pop-up café lunch planned and delivered by the students, giving them the opportunity to build confidence and showcase their skills in an event-style setting.

🗣 “The pop-up cafés are such an integral part of the week at Gillingham because everyone - not just the education team, but all the staff on site - is invited to come together for a communal lunch. The students help lay the tables and manage front of house, along with all the planning, shopping, prep, and cooking for the lunch itself. It’s a multi-faceted way for the young people to develop their skills, while also maintaining the community feeling of EMA. We have such a wonderful time in here, it’s been a huge benefit to us all as professionals, and for the learners to have this dedicated space, which we continue to adapt to suit their needs.” – Natalie, EMA Tutor

✅Student Ben recently hit some goals in pop-up café, independently washing his hands before moving on to mixing ingredients and preparing scones in the kitchen with staff support. He demonstrated good hygiene practices and maintained focus throughout each task. This is just one example of the many small, achievable outcomes made possible by an environment like the hospitality training space.

We’re proud of the developments we’ve made at Gillingham - and even more proud of the opportunities they’re creating for our students. Read more on our website, or, if you’d like to see for yourself, tours and taster sessions are available all year round, giving families the chance to experience first-hand how EMA supports young people in their next steps. 😃

31/10/2025

👨‍🍳From Education to Employment!

🎓Felix graduated from EMA this past July, and during his time with us he made a real impact with his impressive cooking skills. He was often involved in college events such as Christmas lunches and Graduation BBQs, consistently wowing us all with his dishes and professionalism.

🗣"Felix was on the Hospitality programme when I joined EMA and I very quickly spotted his talents. Once we were all set-up with the CTH in September 2024, he started the Level 2 Certificate in Culinary Skills and completed it in February of this year. He was awarded his certificate with all his practical elements gaining a Merit. He then moved straight on to the Level 3 Certificate in Professional Cookery, and completed this level in July and has just been awarded his certificate again with Merits across the board!" - Claire, Hospitality Tutor

After completing his exams, Felix continued to pursue his goal of working in a hospitality role, and straight from college landed a job at The Pig in Brockenhurst where he's been enjoying great success, and the latest news we’re very happy to share is that he has recently been offered a new position at The Limewood Hotel!

🗣“My time at EMA helped me build my confidence and discover a passion for culinary arts. The skills and experiences I gained there have prepared me to take on my new role at The Limewood Hotel and continue developing as a young chef.” - Felix

👏We’re all incredibly proud of the progress Felix has made, and we wish him every success in his new role and future career.

With modules accredited by the CTH - Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality, our state of the art hospitality training facilities at Moreton offer students at different levels a range of opportunities to learn new skills in food safety, food prep, the use of different equipment, healthy eating, plus cooking and thinking creatively about food! If you'd like to find out more about what EMA's study programmes can offer, please visit our website or get in touch. Tours and taster sessions are available all year round. 😃

24/10/2025

📣We're hiring for a few different roles at EMA right now including Tutor, and Learning Support Workers. If you're looking to take the next step in you career, and are dedicated to helping others achieve their goals, we'd love to hear from you.

To find out more, visit our website for all current vacancies. Thank you!

💼https://employmyability.org.uk/jobs/

22/10/2025

🥇We’re thrilled to share the news that Shaftesbury in Bloom has been awarded Gold in this year’s Britain in Bloom for RHS - Royal Horticultural Society! An incredible achievement that recognises the dedication, creativity, and teamwork of everyone involved!

Students from our Gillingham campus and attendees from EMA Social Care played a proud part in the efforts, helping to plant and deliver over 130 troughs and 20 barrels filled with colourful displays across the town earlier this year.

This collaboration gave our learners and service users a wonderful opportunity to apply their skills, work as a team, and see their efforts brighten up the local community. A huge well done to everyone at Shaftesbury in Bloom, and to our amazing students, staff, and social care attendees who contributed to this gold-winning effort. 👏

Great news, we won GOLD!!

An amazing result for all our volunteers and supporters hard work.

Well done everyone.

06/10/2025

📣This week you can find EMA staff at the Somerset Skills and Careers fair!

📅When: Thursday 9th October from 09:00 am
📍Where: Westlands Yeovil

We'll be on hand to talk about our supported internships, and diverse opportunities at EMA for those with SEND. We're looking forward to meeting you!

Somerset Education Business Partnership

29/09/2025

📣There's still time to book your tour slot for our EMA OPEN DAYS this week!

Get in touch today for either campus:
☎01929 405685
📧office@employmyability.org.uk

24/09/2025

🎓Open Days NEXT WEEK! Looking to take your next steps? Visit our campuses, take a tour, and find your future with EMA.

🌳We're excited to show you all the opportunities we have to offer. With our diverse study programmes, and unique facilities, we are a vibrant and inclusive community in Dorset where potential is nurtured, and futures are built.

Some of our students had a few words to share about life at EMA.

🗣"At EMA I enjoy doing cooking and I have learned to try to new things. One happy memory I have is doing more cafe work. My favourite thing I have made is Caesar salad! EMA has helped me to be more independent. I can now cross the road on my own and this makes me feel happy. When I first started EMA I was too nervous to cross the road on my own." - Asher

🗣"I started at EMA in September of 2024 and my confidence has grown since I started here. I love being at EMA as I like to have a routine, learn and try new things. I find being here at EMA that I get listened to and accepted for who I am. I have learned how to become more independent and being able to have positive relationships with others." - Sophie

📅Moreton Campus Open Day – Tues 30th September
📍The Walled Garden, Moreton Dorchester, Dorset - set within a five-acre formal garden, EMA in Moreton is designed to support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to achieve their potential through a combination of education and hands-on learning experiences in real working environments.

📅Gillingham Campus Open Day – Thurs 2nd October
📍Gillingham, Common Mead Lane, Dorset - EMA in Gillingham is an environment designed to meet the needs of students with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), anxiety disorders, and other special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The campus has a focus on preparation for adulthood themes and building independence.

Book your tour for either campus today.
☎01929 405685
📧office@employmyability.org.uk

If you cannot make our open days, tours and taster sessions are available all year around. We look forward to meeting you!