Today he has been carefully crafting chess boards using all manner of tools. Last week he was making signs for the council. It's hard work – but he is loving it.

Unfortunately, the 18-year-old is doing something few in his position get the chance to do.

Steven, of Bainsford, has Asperger's syndrome and is a former pupil at
Carrongrange School.

Like many with learning disabilities or supported needs, on leaving school he found that opportunities to get work experience are scarce.

It's also period when all the wide-ranging support available to these youngsters at school evaporates.

Fortunately for Steven, he was one of the first group of pupils to get involved with a pilot scheme called Real Jobs Falkirk.

Funded by Fairer Scotland and based within Carrongrange, it's designed
to maximise opportunities for pupils between 14 and 19, who are about to enter the world of work.

For the past four weeks, Steven has been going one day a week to the Sign Factory in Bainsford

He said: "When I left school I had only done a little bit of work experience at Shieldhill Primary, so this has been brilliant.
Experience

''My mum and dad think it's been really good for me. Everyone here has been helpful to me and easy to talk to."

According to Jim Nicol, senior support worker on the project, there are many others who are missing out on this type of experience.

"This has been an area of disquiet for a while," he said. "These young people have been forgotten about and we are opening up new doors for them. We have created choices and given them the opportunity to reach a positive destination.

"I think the need for the project has been borne out by the fact we picked up 12 pupils in a short space of time and are looking at another 14-16, so we are already getting close to our limit early on.

"We have also been getting interest from outside Carrongrange and had a good response from the agencies, the council, the job centres, and social work."

Along with Jim, three employment support workers – Liliana Filipe, Alida Hanekon and Jane Hamilton – help the youngsters take part in work placements and further education by ensuring there is support right
through the whole process.

After being referred to the project, pupils fill out a vocational profile to get an idea of their background.

The team will then observe the pupils in classes, on school activities, and speak to teachers, parents, social workers and therapists, to build up a picture of the type of support they need. They will also assist the individual's family.

Liliana said: "We adapt our support according to individuals needs. We don't have a formula which we have with everyone, if it's completely different we will do it."

Halida added: "If they are going to college, our main support is helping them apply and prepare for the interviews. Also, if they are having any problems there we can be called in and asked to help with that."
But that is just the start. It's an intensive operation and, in many cases, will involve them taking the youngsters on a few bus trips to make them comfortable with travelling to college or work on public transport.
Jane said: "When going to Cumbernauld College you have to go through the town centre, which can be quite tricky, so we can do a visual aid, which can help someone to find their way to the bus from the college."
Along with the Sign Factory, teenagers on the project have also spent time in places such as Strathcarron Hospice, charity shops and Camelon Community Project Cafe, but Jim is desperate for more firms to get involved.
"Although we have had some really positive feedback, there is a fear factor among some businesses," he said.
"I think we are now equipped to overcome that if we get sufficient leads into the right places. We just need to get out there and break down some barriers.
"We need the support of employers and one of the things that they find attractive to them is we do job coaching, meaning we will sit in on the job and make sure they meet expectations.
''That is something we found is a big selling point, but we need to get the message across loud and clear."
The team has just received word of the impressions of the first group of youngsters on the programme and the results have been extremely positive, with a 100 per cent satisfaction rate from both participants and their parents.
Steven certainly feels that he has benefited from his time on the project.
"I have been doing a course in expressive arts at Cumbernauld College which has given me the chance to make things like masks and do sewing and that has been really interesting and enjoyable," he said.
"And coming here to the sign factory has given me experience in the workplace and improved my confidence – so this will help me with jobs in the future."