Internship scheme for young people with complex disabilities set to expand
Joe Lepper
Friday, July 19, 2013
Supported Internships for young people with complex disabilities are to launch across England from next month.
The Department for Education scheme follows a pilot that launched two years ago in 15 further education colleges.
The internships will last for a minimum of six months and will be available to 16- to 24-year-olds with complex learning difficulties and disabilities through further education colleges and working with local employers.
During the internships, young people will be assisted by a designated “career coach”, who will also have a role encouraging local employers to recruit more young people with disabilities.
The government has pledged funding for any further education college wanting to set up a Supported Internship programme.
Children and families minister Edward Timpson, who is responsible for Supported Internships, said: “We want to help young people with complex learning difficulties make a successful transition into employment. Supported Internships provide a fantastic opportunity to learn the skills they need for the workplace while working in a real job.”
The move has been launched alongside the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills traineeship programme, which will support disadvantaged young people including those with less complex disabilities.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Disabled people have a lot to offer British businesses, but often their potential is largely untapped. If their employment rate matched that of the rest of the population, an extra two million people would be working.”
Among the areas to take part in the Supported Internship pilot was Surrey, where four colleges worked with local employers such as the University of Surrey and East Surrey Hospital to offer placements to young people.
This latest move by the government has been welcomed by Nicola Gitsham, Preparing for Adulthood programme manager at the National Development Team for Inclusion.
She said: “The Supported Internships programme is for a group who are furthest away from the employment market. It's about placing individuals in the workplace and training on the job, which is what works for this group of people.”
