Inspiring journeys resulting in employment

Inspiring journeys resulting in employment

In this edition of our newsletter, we discuss how learners who completed our supported internships in 2023/24 have continued to secure amazing paid job outcomes over the summer and early autumn period.  

In Northamptonshire, for example, 96% of learners who completed our supported internship programme have found a job! Recent success stories include Evan (pictured) who has secured an admin apprenticeship within the EHCP team at West Northamptonshire Council. Evan has shown incredible commitment to the role and has shown flexibility by supporting other teams in the council too. 


A photo of Evan in a suit sat at his desk in the office.
Recent success stories include Evan (pictured) who has secured an admin apprenticeship within the EHCP team at West Northamptonshire Council.

Evan was one of two learners who did their work experience at the council last year. His peer, Joseph, also secured a paid role in the pensions team.  

We also had outcomes with Yusen Logistics where Meesum is now an administrator, having become a valued member of the team who showed adaptability in learning to work with a new digital system mid-way through his placement and overcome barriers around travel to make the commute into work independently.  

Charlotte and Ellie meanwhile secured paid roles in the childcare sector as nursery and soft play assistant respectively! 

We’re so proud of all our learners who completed our programmes last year and can’t wait to see how their careers develop.  


A new cohort gets underway with the Mencap Training Academy 

September saw the start of a new academic year and we were thrilled to welcome the newest cohort of learners on our supported internship and pre-internship programmes, delivered by our Mencap Training Academy.  

We welcomed back some familiar faces like Thomas who last year completed our pre-internship programme in northwest London, successfully progressing onto the full supported internship this year. When Thomas first joined us, he was not an independent traveller, but he received travel training from his Mencap skills coach throughout the summer and is now commuting independently to his work experience placement at Fair Shot Cafe in Covent Garden. Thomas currently does 3 shifts a week at the Café and is fast becoming a hit with all the customers. He spent his first week on the till and now his second week in the kitchen where he made this lovely salad (pictured).  


A photo of Thomas smiling whilst serving a salad at Fair Shot Cafe in Covent Garden.
Thomas completed Mencap's pre-internship programme last year and he is now enjoying his work experience placement at Fair Shot Cafe in Covent Garden, London.

Thomas is one of 17 learners completing work experience with Fair Shot Cafe this year as part of our supported internships. Learners who did work experience at the cafe last year achieved some fantastic outcomes and we’re looking forward to further building our relationship. Our learners love working there, like Zaki (pictured) who said: “I loved being on the till, I got my first customer in the first 30 minutes and then served over 20 people during my shift.”  


A photo of Zaki serving customers in the Fair Shot Cafe this year as part of our supported internships.
Our learner Zaki enjoying a shift serving customers at the Fair Shot Cafe.

 

Exciting new partnerships 

We are also incredibly excited to be working with some new employer partners this year through our supported internships.  

Learners like Arjhay (pictured), for example, have started in work experience placements with new partners like Boots. Nassim and Eitan, meanwhile, enjoyed a lovely team lunch with their new colleagues at BNP Paribas Real Estate. “It was so great to welcome Nassim and Eitan today”, a member of the BNP Paribas team reported, “we’re really looking forward to working with them over the next year.”  


A photo of Arjhay smiling whilst working in boots pharmacy.
Our learners like Arjhay have gained work experience placements at new partners like Boots.

In Staffordshire, we also started an exciting new partnership with DFN Project Search and ESS Support Services who deliver a range of services at the MoD’s Beaconside site in Staffordshire. Following the DFN Project Search supported internships model, 9 learners will are based at the Beaconside site throughout the year, completing their learning and work experience in a range of rotations including in the cafe, the grounds and the officers mess.

A photo of Kyle working outside, picking up rubbish with a tool that collects it.
During the first weeks of the programme learners like Callum, Jak and Kyle (pictured) have been starting in their first rotations and are really enjoying the experience.  

 

July’s employer partner of the month 

At the end of July, we awarded our last employer partner of the month award of the 2023/24 academic year.  

We were very pleased to give this award to road maintenance company, Carnell Group who partner with our supported internship team in Staffordshire to create fantastic opportunities for our learners.  

In nominating Carnell Group for the award our colleagues had this to say: 

“Not only have Carnell Group accommodated for one of our learners on a work experience placement, they have also instilled the core values of Mencap and ensured our learner has had the best possible experience. We are very pleased that Carnell have offered our learner an apprenticeship in business administration. They have actively gone out of their way to accommodate our student by offering reasonable adjustments, from supporting meetings/communications, giving manageable tasks and providing computer software.” 


A photo of 5 people in an office, where they are shown receiving an award.
We were very pleased to present the July award to the team at Carnell and our learner, Jay (pictured). Congratulations Carnell! 

 

Supporting re-engagement in Bradford 

Our programme in Bradford that works with young people who are, or at risk of becoming, not in employment, education or training (NEET) celebrated the hard work of participants at the end of the academic year.  

People on the programme achieved some great outcomes like Jenson who will be re-engaging with education and attending Keighley College this year, completing maths and English qualifications, while gaining some experience in their motor vehicle workshop, with the ultimate aim of pursuing his dream to become an aerospace engineer! 


A photo of Hasan celebrating with a piece of paper in his hand ready to take his driving lessons, with his caseworker stood next to him.
Hasan (pictured), meanwhile, was supported by his Mencap caseworker to take driving lessons so he may pursue his ambition of one day becoming a bus driver.  


Well done to everyone who completed our programme this year, and we wish you all the best for your future. 

 

Providing inclusive pathways into work 

Our inclusive pathways programme delivers employment-related support to people with a disability aged 16-25 living in Barnet and nearby London boroughs. This month, one of the programme’s participants, Nathan (pictured) kindly offered to write about their experience of the programme: 


A photo of Nathan smiling against a blank background.
Our inclusive pathways programme's participant Nathan.

“Before joining Inclusive Pathways, I had lost my job in unscripted television and was disappointed to lose both a job I enjoyed and the routine and stability that it gave me.  

Initially, I had my heart completely set on only finding a job back in television. However, I realised when joining the inclusive pathways programme that I should also branch out and be open-minded about jobs.  

The weekly job clubs were a huge benefit, as I learned so many valuable skills such as interview techniques (including techniques for neurodivergent interviewees to calm down and maintain focus), writing brilliant CVs and cover letters and how to create effective job applications. 

The inclusive pathways team championed me during an application and interview process for an Oliver Magowan lived experience co-trainer role that lasted several months, and I was eventually offered the role on a part-time basis. I am currently completing my training for this role and will then be helping to deliver autism awareness training to NHS staff. 

I was also helped to successfully prepare for interview for another part-time role that I found with a charity called Kids. This is an Autism champion role, helping to deliver webinars to autistic young people. I have had a fun, insightful time in this new job. 

The Inclusive Pathways team also found me some brilliant short courses including documentary film making, and a writing course at the Prince’s Trust. This in particular was a sensational course for me as I dream of becoming a professional writer, and it has given me a new lease of life and brilliant future opportunities to enhance my skills.” 

Find out more about our supported internships and register your interest.

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