Young adults enjoy greater confidence when they feel connected to the life of their wider community. A large part of their learning is developing this confidence. At St Catherine’s, we do this by giving our learners the opportunity to gain real life experiences across the Isle of Wight. 

Ventnor and the Isle of Wight both have a lot to offer young adults and St Catherine’s is well-known in the town; we are Ventnor’s largest employer and have had our roots here for nearly 150 years. 

Ventnor is set on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight. It is a quiet town with lots of Victorian architecture, so it has a lovely traditional seaside feel about it. It has excellent bus routes and a small high street with both independent and national shops.

The local community is really supportive and provides excellent opportunities for learning – all of which we make the most of. Things like:

• Going shopping in Ventnor, which has a small high street with both independent and national shops, learning how to manage money, budget, plan ahead and practise language and communication skills
• Visiting the local town as a platform for the development of independence, including learning to keep safe whilst in an outdoor public environment
• Joining in community-based activities and entertainment, meeting new people and trying new ventures, like local interest groups and sports
• Using Ventnor’s excellent bus routes to learn how to travel independently