What is a Supported Internship?
What is a Supported Internship?
A supported internship is a work-based program for 16-24 years with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) who have an EHCP.
What does a Supported Internship aim to do?
It aims to support Young People/ Adults into a work placement. It will support you to develop skills for working and develop confidence in your own abilities in the workplace. It will also support the employers to support your needs.
Who is a Supported Internship for?
A supported internship is aimed at Young People with an EHCP usually working between Entry level 2 and functional skills 2.
What will you do on a Supported Internship?/ What type of work will I do?
You will spend most of your time in a work placement (about 70% of the week) and some time preparing for employment in a classroom. You will have a job coach to support you with your work placement. This a full-time education course. You may be with one employer for the year or may try different jobs.
A supported internship may be in many types of job roles but most are in customer service based roles or practical roles such as retail, hospitality, post- room, library, childcare, leisure facilities, office, healthcare providers.
How long is a supported internship?
A minimum of 6 months to 1 year. A supported internship will help you to get a job either before or after the program has finished. It is likely your EHCP will cease after a supported internship as you will move to employment.
How do I apply for a supported Internship?/ When do Supported Internships start?
Apply on the providers website- a list of providers and websites are supplied below. Remember to let your EHCP co-ordinator know so that they can send (consult with) your EHCP. Applications usually open the September before you would start. Supported Internships usually start in September.
What will happen once I apply?
The provider will contact me and ask me for a short interview, I may also have an assessment. It is important that they assess that you are right for the program.
Will I get paid?
There is no expectation that the intern is paid. However, the supported internship will support you to get paid employment once the course has finished.
What is the difference between a supported internship and an apprenticeship?
Supported internships are work-based study programmes that aim to support young people into employment. Apprenticeships are paid jobs that include off-the-job training.
Supported internships are specifically for young people with an EHC plan, and as such, they are expected to require a different level of support compared to a trainee or apprentice. They will have a job coach to support them in their workplace learning.
*note traineeships are no longer running.
Who provides supported internships?
There are many providers that offer supported internships see a list of some supported Internship providers below. Look at the websites for more information.
The Shaw Trust
Contact Website https://shawtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/supported-internships/ Apply via the website | Have supported internships in Retail, hospitability and customer service.
In the following London boroughs Wandsworth Hillingdon Harrow Romford
They also have supported internships with Transport for London ( TFL) |
Project Search Contact Matthew Kaye 07360159940 Matthew.kaye@cricketgreen/merton.sch.uk Website https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org/ Apply via the website | Nearest Project Search Supported Internship is based at St Georges Hospital in Wandsworth
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MENCAP Contact for Kingston Muhammed Mullick 07966 134737 [javascript protected email address] Website https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/education-skills-and-work/supported-internships Apply via the website | MENCAP run supported internships in the following London Boroughs
Kingston Barnet Ealing Islington Waltham Forest
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Roots and Shoots Contact [javascript protected email address] 020 7587 1131 Website https://www.rootsandshoots.org.uk/vocational-training/pre-supported Apply via the website | Based in Lambeth Offer a pre-supported internship in horticulture |
Orchard Hill- Work Start Contact 0345 402 0453 [javascript protected email address] Website https://workstart.me.uk/courses/supported-internships/ Apply via the website | Have Projects in Kingston, Sutton, Epsom and Hillingdon.
They are also affiliated with Project Search |
The Autism Project (TAP) Contact 020 3375 6288 [javascript protected email address] Website https://care-trade.org/the-autism-project/Apply on the website | Have projects with healthcare providers such as Whittington Hospital and St Guys and Thomas’s |
Ambitious about Autism Contact 020 8815 5444 [javascript protected email address] Website https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/employment/supported-internships Apply via the website | Have projects with healthcare providers such as Whittington Hospital and are affiliated with Project Search |
Other Useful Contacts
SNAS Team - find out your co-ordinator here
Alternatively you can contact our duty line on
Email: [javascript protected email address]
Telephone: 020 8871 8061
Post -16 Participation Team
Email: [javascript protected email address]
Telephone/Whatsapp: 07971 038 671 / 07977 093 610
Wandsworth Information and Advice Service (WIASS)
Website: https://wiass.org.uk/contact-us/
Email: [javascript protected email address]
Telephone: 020 8871 8065