Handmade items and upcycled goods, all made with the input of our talented young autistic people, are back on sale in a Berkshire shopping centre.

Young people from Prior's Court, who all have autism and complex needs, have helped create a range of Father’s Day items during lessons as part of our post-16 vocational education.

A range of handmade and upcycled items 

A range of mosaic-topped and resin tables, planters, chalkboards, domino clocks, cards, wrapping paper, coasters and more are on sale - all of which have been created with involvement from our young people.

These items are now available to buy in a shop run by Artisans Handmade UK, a collective of artisans and crafters, in The Oracle shopping centre, Reading. Items made by our young people were previously sold in the store before Christmas.

Charlie Harris, Vocational Teacher, said:

Our young people have contributed at all stages to the items which are now on sale.

We have regularly sold a range of items on-site to staff and parents in the past and it is hugely exciting to be able to show the wider world what young people at Prior’s Court are capable of. Each item is as unique as our young people.

We are hugely grateful to Artisans Handmade UK for their continued support of our young people’s work.

The value of Vocational Learning

Vocational learning lessons at Prior's Court are focused specifically on developing, practicing and generalising vocational skills which are geared towards helping our young people to secure employment in the future. With only 32% of autistic adults in the UK in paid employment, providing young people with the skills to enable them to enter the workforce is vital.

Monies from every sale will be used by our staff to purchase more raw materials for new products, ensuring our young people continue to develop and generalise their vocational skills.

Skills learnt include following instructions and manufacturing techniques, with additional benefits from learning about running an enterprise, such as stock-taking and fulfilling deliveries, and trade-based skills which can be used both at work and at home in the future.

Learn more about vocational learning at Prior's Court