Supported Internships – Knowsley MBC

• Lead Member Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
• Categories Education & Training

The Knowsley Supported Internship Programme commenced in 2016 and aims to prepare young people with a learning difficulty and / or disability for employment. 

The programme is a partnership between Knowsley Council and Knowsley Community College, working with local employers to provide 12 month’s work experience to help young people find sustainable employment in the future. 

They are mentored and supported on a day-to-day basis and also attend a weekly session around employability, literacy and numeracy.

In 2016 and 2017, a total of 21 young adults enrolled on the programme, with 17 securing employment, with others going on to further education or volunteering opportunities.  For 2018, 10 young people are currently gaining work experience in a variety of businesses across the borough.  Roles include grounds maintenance, kitchen duties and caretaker.

As well as employment outcomes, feedback from participants has been extremely positive including improved confidence, social skills and enjoying meeting new people.  Future plans include attracting more businesses to support the programme and the establishment of a Supported Employment Forum to raise awareness of the programme’s benefits for businesses, along with the support provided to them. 

In addition, participants on the programme are also helping to deliver free disability awareness training to businesses as part of a newly created Empower Job Carving programme in Knowsley. Empower job carving takes less skills jobs from different people to create a role suitable for an adult with a learning disability and / or disability.  In the first few months, three adults have already secured employment. 

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