Obm Onelab CIC

ONELAB is a Department for Education registered Specialist Post-16 Institute (SPI), delivering an innovative and experiential learning programme for young people aged 16–25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Through specialist pathways in art, design, digital media and entrepreneurship, ONELAB equips learners with the creative, technical and employability skills required to progress into sustainable employment, self-employment and independent adult life. ONELAB works in partnership with the University of the Arts London (UAL) to deliver accredited qualifications from Level 1 to Level 4 and is also a Pearson-approved work-based learning centre based in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets — the borough identified as having the highest rates of child poverty in the United Kingdom. The organisation exists to address the root causes of poverty and social exclusion experienced by disabled young people, particularly those who are furthest from the labour market. ONELAB specifically focuses on reducing the disability employment gap by creating accessible pathways into the creative industries for SEND learners. Disability remains one of the strongest indicators of poverty in the UK, with national research demonstrating that almost half of all people living in poverty are disabled or live within a household containing a disabled person. For many creatively gifted SEND learners, particularly those living in areas of high deprivation such as Tower Hamlets, opportunities to pursue careers within the creative industries are severely limited. Traditional education and employment routes frequently fail to provide the specialist support, industry access, professional networks and inclusive environments necessary for these young people to thrive. As a result, many remain excluded from meaningful employment opportunities despite significant creative talent and potential. ONELAB addresses these systemic barriers by providing a highly supportive and industry-focused learning environment that combines accredited education, practical skills development, enterprise training and real-world creative experience. Learners are supported to build confidence, independence and professional capability whilst developing clear progression routes into paid employment, higher education, freelance work and entrepreneurship within the creative sector. By bridging the gap between education and industry, ONELAB enables SEND learners to actively participate in the UK’s growing creative economy and to achieve greater economic independence, social mobility and long-term wellbeing. Vision ONELAB’s vision is a society in which young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities are empowered to realise their full potential, participate fully in community life and access meaningful opportunities for personal, social and economic success. Through an inclusive and innovative model of experiential learning, ONELAB seeks to create environments where diverse talents are recognised, nurtured and celebrated. The organisation is committed to ensuring that every young person, regardless of disability or background, is provided with the support, encouragement and opportunities required to thrive with confidence, dignity and independence. ONELAB envisions a future where disabled young people are no longer defined by barriers to education or employment, but are recognised as valuable contributors to the creative economy and wider society. Mission ONELAB’s mission is to reduce poverty, unemployment and social exclusion amongst young people with SEND by tackling the underlying causes of economic inequality and the disability employment gap. The organisation achieves this through two core objectives: Raising attainment and aspirations amongst learners who are at greatest risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), thereby improving long-term life chances and social mobility; and Creating clear, accessible and sustainable pathways into employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship within the creative industries. ONELAB is forging new pathways into adulthood for young people with SEND by delivering practical, industry-relevant training that prepares learners to participate meaningfully in the creative economy. Through its unique blend of education, enterprise and experiential learning, ONELAB bridges the gap between academic study and real-world application, enabling learners to develop the confidence, skills and professional experience required to secure sustainable futures.