TOMORROW will see an opportunities fair held in York to help mark out the paths to work, education or training for people with special needs.

The Independence Day will offer young people with special educational or additional needs a chance to research and plan what their next steps could be in work, training or education.

Held at Askham Bryan College on Independence Day - Tuesday, July 4 - from 9.30am to 12.30pm, City of York Council’s eighth fair will bring together workshops, discussions and advice on education, work, supported employment and leisure options in York for young people aged between 14 and 25.

At the fully-accessible event young people, family members and carers, will be invited to meet local colleges, organisations such as Mencap, United Response - which runs Cafe West at the council’s West Offices - Be Independent, Fit 2 Work, Inspire 2 Independence and Tang Hall SMART, all offering a wide variety of opportunities.

There will be chances to chat informally with specialists from the transition team, learning and work advisers, and many others and with young people who are now in colleges or work themselves.

The Fair will also be a chance to pick up information from York’s Local Offer for disabled children and young people.

Askham Bryan will be organising a range of workshops for young people to get a practical flavour of their options including the popular animal care course.

Cllr Stuart Rawlings, executive member for education, children and young people, said: “We work hard to ensure that all our young people with disabilities find the option that’s best for them and their futures.

“This fair is a great way to check out what’s on offer in York, so do go along and see the choice of quality options.”

At the fair there will be prizes up for grabs too: the Young Person’s Progress Prize which celebrates young people’s work to increase their independence and prepare for adult life, and the other is Opportunities Fair Bingo, a fun and interactive fact-finding mission. The college cafe will also be open for lunch, drinks and snacks.

Find out more about growing up and the options open to disabled young people at York’s Local Offer: www.yor-ok.org.uk/families/Local%20Offer/growing-up.htm