National Development Team for Inclusion launch “Time to Talk Next Steps”, offering free personalised transition support

Alice McColl, Programme Lead for National Development Team for Inclusion's (NDTi) programme Time to Talk Next Steps, a new service for young people with additional support needs between the ages of 14 and 25 who are unsure about their next steps in life. 

At NDTi we believe that every young person deserves the chance to have meaningful conversations about their ideas, interests, and hopes as early as possible. We know that too many young people with additional support needs don’t get this opportunity. Thanks to Scottish Government funding we are providing Time to Talk Next Steps until March 2026. It’s a programme built on strong evidence so we know that it works!

Back in 2022, young people in Scotland made it clear: they weren't being asked simple but crucial questions like “what is your dream/goal?” or “what is it you love to do?” They highlighted a real need for person-centred planning to encourage and inspire them.

That’s where Time to Talk Next Steps Scotland steps in! We're here to directly address that need, ensuring young people with additional support needs get the dedicated, personalised support they deserve. We're commissioned by the Scottish Government, building on successful pilot work with Children in Scotland and Contact Scotland.

We believe that young people need to enjoy good conversations about their ideas, interests and hopes as early as possible. Our approach is therefore simple and practical, keeping paperwork to minimum. Usually, a dedicated Supporter is assigned to each young person and/or family providing up to 10 sessions on zoom, Teams or on the phone – whatever works for them.

Our primary focus is to build young people’s confidence. We want them to enjoy communicating what’s important to them and to feel able to share their strengths.

Our supporters use creative ways to support young people eg. games, videos, music, art, person centred planning tools and more. Young people can set personal goals, explore future plans, ask their supporter to help them practice saying what they want or need, research options or accompany them to meetings to make sure their voices are heard when discussing their transition.

Requests for support can be made by a young person or by someone on their behalf by filling out this simple form.(If information in Easy Read or another format is needed please email us on tttns@ndti.org.uk)

Free group sessions on transition available for schools and youth groups

Planning Live sessions are fun and interactive virtual sessions for groups. They are about an hour long and can be run for any school, youth group or community group interested in supporting young people with ASN on transition. To express interest in having a session at your setting or to have a chat and find out more please fill in a short form here.

Can you help?

We want to reach young people who don’t have any support at present or have made no plans for the their next steps. They might be out of school or have left a while ago and feel stuck.

We celebrate every contribution young people make. Check out this fantastic short video made by some of the young people to help advertise the programme! Please share it far and wide!

Let’s get talking and make those next steps brilliant! Contact :Alice McColl, alice.mccoll@ndti.org.uk

Alice McColl is Development Lead Children and Young People for NDTi