Future Potential – Join our Inclusive Journey of Opportunity

The Future Potential series of events were the collaborative brainchild of colleagues from
Inclusion Education, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council,
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce – all with the shared goal of developing opportunities for the
young people in our community.

The sessions were devised to bring together businesses and organisations throughout our
Basingstoke and surrounding community to explore the barriers and blocks to employing
neurodivergent young people and work on solutions to supporting this growing workforce.
Our second event in March saw over 40 businesses, community leaders, and passionate
individuals dedicated to fostering inclusion and opportunity for young people with neurodiversity
and mental health challenges. The atmosphere was electric, filled with hope and determination
to make a meaningful impact.

Discussions were animated and really reflected the fact that we had created a safe space for
meaningful debate which highlighted some of the concerns and realistic experiences and
expectations of our delegates.

We heard moving testimonies from employers who shared their experiences with work
placements at The Anvil, The Hygiene Bank, Target Therapies, and Scratch Built Theatre.
Students had also prepared videos and posters sharing their stories of growth, confidence-
building, and restored faith in the kindness of others. All of which really strengthened the work
we were doing and the power we each have to make an incredible difference to the lives and
future aspirations of young people.

The workshop focused on identifying gaps in the recruitment and retention processes that affect
neurodiverse candidates. Participants engaged in discussions, using prompts and resources to
explore these gaps. We captured the top three gaps from each group, which will inform the
agenda for our next event in June. This future event will provide targeted training and
development opportunities to address the identified gaps and will be a platform for open
discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and the sharing of innovative ideas to further
support our mission.

Our third session will be held in June, informed by the learnings of the previous events, it will
seek to offer training and support to address the key issues reflected in our discussions.
The support we have received has been overwhelming – our mission at Inclusion Education has
always been to improve the opportunities and aspirations of the young people in our care – and
the level of commitment and involvement we have received from our local council, business and
organisations has really highlighted what a priority this is for everyone.

In our inaugural event Lead of Basingstoke and Deane District Council Paul Harvey highlighted
the need and shared enthusiasm for Basingstoke to become the epicentre of inclusion and diversity in the workplace – this aspiration remains a driver for us all as we continue to make connections, develop our approach and support each other to open the doors for a diverse
workforce.

This next session will focus on what the next steps are and providing training to support
organisations and businesses to start their journey in developing a more inclusive workspace.
We invite you to join us on this journey of inclusion and opportunity. Together, we can create a
compassionate and supportive environment where every young person has the chance to
thrive. Let’s continue building bridges, breaking down barriers, and unlocking our communities’ potential.

Save the date for our next event: 19th June 2025