We were delighted to host a celebratory reception for our first group of Supported Internship students recently at The Delta Hotels by Marriott Tudor Park Country Club. We’re very proud to share that all five of the interns are either going into full-time employment or are progressing to further training in the form of an apprenticeship.
This initiative, run in partnership with Medway Council and aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who have an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan, is a vital stepping stone towards meaningful employment for young people in the community.
Supported Internships offer a structured, work-based study program, placing students in substantial work placements under the guidance of expert job coaches. The primary goal is to equip them with the skills necessary for sustained, paid employment by learning directly within the workplace environment. There is a degree of flexibility in the programmes which are mapped to lead on to the type of work the intern is interested in.
In addition to their hands-on experience with employers, interns also follow a personalized study program delivered by the College. This curriculum includes opportunities to earn relevant qualifications and improve proficiency in English and mathematics at appropriate levels.
The reception at the Delta Tudor Marriott Hotel brought together students, their families, college staff, employers, and job coaches to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the interns over the past year. Whilst enjoying a tasty brunch, the attendees reflected on the positive impact of the programme, hearing from Supported Internship Supervisor Emma Ashdown who explained how the programme demonstrated their value in the workplace and outlined the skills and behaviours they’d developed, including confidence, independence, money management, travel and public transport training as well as improving their English & Maths skills. Elise Byng, Director of Additional Learning Support at the College congratulated the students on their achievements, emphasising how far they’d come in such a short time.
We caught up with four of the interns to get their thoughts on their time on the programme:
Ellie-May (working bank shifts between two nurseries, soon progressing to an apprenticeship)
“What I’ve enjoyed the most about doing the Supported Internship is being at Bright Horizons, getting to the know the children and the staff members and dealing with difficult challenges. I’d like to say thank you to Emma and the team for helping me and my brother as he’d been out of education for a while, and I’d be nowhere today without doing this.”
Martina (currently awaiting news on a Childcare apprenticeship application)
“I’m quite disappointed that my Supported Internship is over, but it’s been a good journey, I feel a lot more confident. I’ve made new friends and have got to know the teacher and had lots of support. I want to say thank you to Emma for helping me to get into the job I really want in the future.”
Graham
"I’ve enjoyed everything on the internship. I’m now a line cook at the Delta Marriott Hotel in Maidstone, I prepare the food in the mornings and the weekends. The programme has helped me a lot. To be honest, I’d not done anything at all for 5 or 6 years and in a year I’ve changed my entire life around thanks to the College.”
Hal (working at Sevenoaks Golf Club)
"I work with a team to ensure the greens and fairway are suitable to be played on by the golfers. I enjoy the job and it's a good environment to work in. The Supported Internship has helped me develop into the person I am today and has helped me get ready for work."
Charlie Padwick who was unfortunately not able to attend the reception, carried out his internship with Refugease, working on the shop floor and in the warehouse.
We'd like to say a huge well done to all of our Supported Interns and we wish them the best in their new roles and further training!
Our next Supported Internship programme is set to begin in September. Additionally, we are excited to introduce "Learn to Earn," a new Pre-Supported Internship. This initiative is designed to help develop the skills of those students who may not yet be fully prepared to enter the Supported Internship directly. Further details and a link to apply can be found on our website here.
