Ascent Autism Specialist College, Newton-le-Willows, has been shortlisted for another award, this time at the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Culture and Creativity Awards.
The LCR Culture and Creativity Awards recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution that culture and creativity make to the city region.
First established in 2019 as part of the Metro Mayor’s, Steve Rotheram, commitment to culture, the awards are now in their sixth year.
The specialist college has been shortlisted for the ‘Preparing for Work’ award. This award celebrates the impact culture and creativity have on developing technical, transferable and life-long skills that prepare young people for the world of work.
The winner must demonstrate to the judging panel excellence in using culture and creativity to prepare young people for the rapidly evolving change, challenges, and opportunities in the future, supporting them in achieving their potential.
As part of its entry, the college highlighted its unwavering commitment to preparing autistic young adults for future careers. Ascent College prides itself on fostering a career-related learning environment and offering a diverse range of pathways and opportunities for students.
The entry went on to outline the college’s focus on developing a spirit of enterprise in combination with collaborative partnerships with organisations, including The Royal Horticulture Society, Vinci Construction, John Lewis, Haydock Jockey Club Catering, Little Bears Nursery, and more.
Real-world work experience enables students to develop an aspirational and entrepreneurship mindset that prepares them for their futures beyond education.
Julliet Doherty, head of adult services at Ascent College, commented on the exciting news. She said: “Ascent College is a vanguard in preparing autistic young adults for future careers.
“We place a strong emphasis on providing students with comprehensive career-related learning experiences that go beyond traditional vocational training, challenge misconceptions and push the boundaries of what is possible.”
Julliet added: “Through our extensive careers curriculum, we equip our students with a broad range of skills, knowledge and practical experiences, essential for their successful integration into the workplace and the broader community.”
As part of its mission to foster a sense of entrepreneurship among students, the college launched an initiative where each class would receive £100 at the beginning of the academic year to research and develop a sustainable project.
The project enables students to feel empowered and develop skills including problem-solving, project management, and money management.
Ascent Autism Specialist College is part of the Remarkable Autism Charity. The charity supports autistic individuals aged five to 25 through its core provisions.
CEO of Remarkable Autism, Robin Bush, said: “We are delighted that Ascent College has been shortlisted for an LCR Culture and Creativity award. The college, under Julliet Doherty’s leadership, has taken huge strides in establishing an extensive network of partners to provide students with real-world experience.
“At Remarkable Autism, our mission is to support autistic individuals to live happy and fulfilled lives beyond education. Each of our provisions supports these young people during the pivotal years of their education journey, helping them to develop the skills, tools and knowledge to enter the world of work.”
In November, the college announced it had been shortlisted for six prestigious awards, both regionally and nationally.
The LCR Culture and Creativity Awards are scheduled to take place on Thursday, 5 March 2025 at the Floral Pavilion Theatre in New Brighton.