Providing reassurance and information about supported internship 

On Thursday 18 May, Family Fund, the Department of Education and The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) teamed up to host the webinar ‘Spotlight on supported internships’. 

Supported internships are study programmes for young people, aged 16 to 24, who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and want to move into employment, but need some extra support.  

During the 90 minutes webinar, the 400 participants heard personal experiences from supported interns, family members of interns and employers, to learn about the benefits of internships. Government representatives also shared more about the investment Government is making to support more young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities(SEND) into work.  

Participants received tips on how to enable young people to take part in a supported internship, and where to find out more about what is happening in their local area. 

Find out more, from supported interns, here:

More about supported internships  

Supported internships provide work experience for young disabled people. The goal is for them to gain skills and develop in confidence. Internships give young people an opportunity to take their first steps into the world of employment, build skills in the workplace, gain qualifications, and use these to potentially get a paid job. A key element of a supported internship is a substantial work placement, facilitated by the support of an expert job coach. 

More about the national Internships Work programme 

The national Internships Work programme is funded by the Department for Education. Its goal is to support more young people with additional needs to have greater choice and control over their future and the means to open opportunities that prepare them for adult life and independent living. It aims to double the current Supported Internship provision in England, enabling 4500 aged 16-25 year-olds with additional needs per year to benefit from a supported internship by 2025.