As part of our commitment to preparing students for life beyond NCW, we recently supported Year 13 student Alejandro on an incredible transition training experience.

Just before breaking up for the summer, Alejandro took part in a full-day mobility trip to Birkbeck, University of London, where he’ll be starting his degree this autumn. The trip was planned and led by Katie Simkins, NCW’s Mobility Officer, in partnership with Sarah from Guide Dogs, who has been working closely with Alejandro at home.

The day was a fantastic example of teamwork and partnership working — bringing together NCW, home support, external professionals, the university and most importantly, Alejandro himself. It was carefully designed to help Alejandro put his mobility training into practice in a real-world environment.

The visit included train and bus travel, navigating Birkbeck University’s campus, and managing key tasks like route planning, requesting Passenger Assist services and confidently self-advocating. These are all part of the essential independence skills students develop at NCW.

Though the day was long, it was a resounding success — not only reinforcing Alejandro’s confidence but also demonstrating how collaboration between professionals and families can create powerful outcomes for young people.

We are so proud of Alejandro and the incredible progress he’s made. This is just one example of the many personalised transition opportunities we offer at NCW to help students prepare for their next steps in education and life.