Powerful Message delivered at Supported Intern Event

On Wednesday 13th May, the Bedford Borough Council hosted an important awareness event and the Bedford Better partnership was on hand to support. The purpose of the event was to promote Bedford Brough Councils Supported Internship Programme. The aim was to provide a chance for local young people (and parent/carers) to find out more about the programme and how it can support them.

For context, the Supported Internship Programme is a structured, work-based study programme for 16 to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan. The core aim of a supported internship study programme is a substantial work placement, facilitated by the support of an expert job coach.

The aim of supported internships is to support young people with EHC plans to gain paid employment by:

- Supporting them to develop the skills valued by employers
- Enabling them to demonstrate their value in the workplace
- Developing confidence in their own abilities to perform successfully at work.

Better has supported this programme since taking over the leisure contract in Bedford by offering a range of placements for young people on the programme. Each supported intern flourished within the centres they were placed in and gained a variety of important employability skills. This is perhaps best demonstrated by one intern who, after her placement was offered a position at John Bunyan Sports and Fitness.

At the event, the impact that Better has had on the programme was made abundantly clear. Firstly the newly employed intern delivered a small presentation on her experience within the programme and how important her placement at John Bunyan Sports and Fitness was for her personal and professional development. She was delighted to inform those in attendance that her first shift was this coming Sunday!

Due to his long-standing relationship with the programme, local Community Sports Manager Aaron Colbert was asked to provide insights into offering placements and the benefits to a business/employer. In what was essentially a call to arms, Aaron encouraged the young people in attendance to sign up to the programme and encouraged the local businesses in attendance to engage in the programme by offering work placements. The message from Aaron’s presentation was clear, every young person from the programme who have received placements by Better have all been hardworking, reliable and valuable team members. As long as they are in Bedford, Better will continue to engage with the Supported Intern Programme