The Stepping Stones scheme, part of the Council's Vocational Services team, helps disabled people and those with mental health conditions find voluntary work and part time paid work. We provide a service in various locations across Dorset.

You can join Stepping Stones if you:

• Are 16 years or over
• Live in Dorset (not Bournemouth or Poole)
• Not on Job Seekers Allowance

We can help you to:

• Identify your skills and strengths
• Identify your training needs
• Look for jobs, fill in application forms, put together a CV
• Prepare for interviews

Once you are in a job your Vocational Support Officer will keep in touch with you and your employer to make sure things are running smoothly.

The team also run projects providing people with the opportunity to gain work experience and develop skills within a supportive environment.

• Oh Crumbs Catering Services

  Vocational Services runs Oh Crumbs Catering Services as part of its work based projects. The teams provide training in both catering and customer service skills

• The Germinators

  Do you have an interest in gardening? The Germinators are a Dorchester based group offering disabled people and those with mental health conditions the opportunity to work together to produce plants and vegetables for sale.

• Green Clean Car Cleaning

  Do you enjoy practical, outdoor work? Then our car cleaning project could be for you.

• Office4You

  Interested in working in an office environment? Office4You is a work experience project based in Wareham, offering disabled people and those with mental health conditions the opportunity to gain office and IT skills and training.

• Are you ready for work?

  Do you have a learning disability, and would you like to take part in a course to see if you are ready for work?

• Information for employers

  Vocational Services currently work with over 120 local and national employers, but are always on the look out for more employer partnerships.