Two Warwickshire students gain full-time employment following successful Supported Internship
Rhiannon, aged 26, and Matthew, aged 21, have embarked on their journey towards promising careers after completing a life-changing supported internship programme with The Heart of England Forest. Watch the video here to find out more about their journey.
Supported internships are study programmes specifically tailored for young people, aged 16 to 24, with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). By providing vital work-based learning opportunities, they can help young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) take their first steps towards embarking on a rewarding career.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) works in partnership with local colleges, special schools and young people to select suitable placements and to provide ongoing support for the young person and business host throughout the internship and the early stages of any ongoing careers.
The Heart of England Forest’s 10-month supported internship programme has been carefully thought out to provide excellent opportunities for the interns to develop valuable hands-on skills alongside gaining relevant qualifications by completing a personalised study programme.
Throughout their placement, Rhiannon and Matthew received one-to-one support from a designated member of the Heart of England Forest team and were guided by an expert job coach to help them carry out tasks and develop their employability skills. When their placement ended in June 2022, they both received support to apply for jobs with the charity and are now enjoying the benefits of full-time employment.
Thanks to a grant of £105,000 from the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi), WCC is working with partners to improve opportunities for young people to access community-based supported internships across the county.
Read more about The Heart of England programme and Supported Internships in Warwickshire here: