Resources

For Employers

The Leeds Inclusive Employer Network (LIEN) was launched in June 2023, as a means of providing information and support to employers about all aspects of inclusive employment, from recruitment through to retention and all stages in between.

Membership of the network is free of charge with meetings being held quarterly, hosted by different employers. Each event has a mixture of speakers: experts speaking about specific topics; employers sharing what they are doing; and people with lived experience of a range of disabilities sharing their views. Topics to date have included: inclusive recruitment; reasonable adjustments; how to run inclusive interviews; and creating an inclusive culture. Members are also provided with written guides about specific topics, as well as being signposted to other resources.

The network is co-ordinated free-of-charge by Lighthouse Futures Trust, as part of its work as the lead for employer engagement for the Leeds Autism & Learning Disability Employment Task Group. The aim of the task group is to develop and deliver a citywide strategy to help Leeds be the best city in the UK with regards diversity in employment, with an initial focus on people who are autistic or have learning disabilities.

The network is likely to be of interest to employees with responsibility for recruitment, HR, diversity and inclusion, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) or ESG (Environment, Social & Governance).  

Please be sure to check our events page for upcoming LIEN networking events. 

We simply don’t have enough space to list the many benefits that having a neuro-diverse workforce can bring to employers across all sectors, so find our top 10 highlights here. 

The lens through which we view and understand disability matters. All of our work here at Lighthouse Futures Trust is rooted in the Social Model of Disability. The Social Model of Disability recognises that it is societal barriers which are disabling to people, not their impairment or difference. This understanding impacts the language we use around disability. Through this lens, people are disabled (by society barriers) rather than have a disability. As opposed to placing the responsibility with the disabled person, the Social Model recognises that it is society which needs to adapt in order to create accessibility & inclusivity for all.

Here are some places to learn more about the Social Model of Disability: 

We are in the process of developing a series of helpful guidance resources around actionable adjustments for neurodivergent inclusivity in the workplace.

Some other brilliant places to explore this are:

For Interns & Neurodivergent People

Lighthouse Futures Trust has a range of clubs and social events available to our interns. These are aimed at meeting like-minded people with similar interests and forming new connections and friendships within our community. Read more about our clubs and social events here. 

Another place to explore is Luv2meetu. The Autistic Society recommends the HfT’s Luv2MeetU site, a friendship service for learning disabled adults and/or autistic adults, helping to build friendships and connections between neurodivergent adults in West Yorkshire.   

The lens through which we view and understand disability matters. All of our work here at Lighthouse Futures Trust is rooted in the Social Model of Disability. The Social Model of Disability recognises that it is societal barriers which are disabling to people, not their impairment or difference. This understanding impacts the language we use around disability. Through this lens, people are disabled (by societal barriers) rather than have a disability. As opposed to placing the responsibility with the disabled person, the Social Model recognises that it is society which needs to adapt in order to create accessibility & inclusivity for all.

Here are some places to learn more about the Social Model of Disability: 

Our counsellor and wellbeing manager has compiled a list of resources for interns and neurodivergent people who may be seeking wellbeing support. Here are some great places to explore: 

Autistic & Unapologetic’s site is also a great place to explore interesting research, resources and articles all around the many aspects of Autistic experience. Some brilliant articles featured on the site include:

Our interns also have direct access to our in-house counsellor, who works with her clients to develop a support plan which works for and with them. Read more here. 

For Parents & Carers

Set up & led by 3 members of staff who are all parents of Neurodivergent young people, our Parent & Carer Support Group offers an opportunity to connect with other parents & carers of Lighthouse Futures Trust students – both past and present. The group explores a range of relevant themes – and in this process, share knowledge, advice and resources. 

  • SENDIASS – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Services (SENDIASS) in Leeds. Find out more here. 
  • Leeds Local Offer – The Leeds Local Offer provides information for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents or carers in a single place. It shows families what they can expect from a range of local agencies including education, health and social care. Find out more here. 

We understand how challenging navigating support for your young person can be. Here are some great places to explore wellbeing support resources and services: 

The lens through which we view and understand disability matters. All of our work here at Lighthouse Futures Trust is rooted in the Social Model of Disability. The Social Model of Disability recognises that it is societal barriers which are disabling to people, not their impairment or difference. This understanding impacts the language we use around disability. Through this lens, people are disabled (by societal barriers) rather than have a disability. As opposed to placing the responsibility with the disabled person, the Social Model recognises that it is society which needs to adapt in order to create accessibility & inclusivity for all.

Here are some places to learn more about the Social Model of Disability: