29 Oct Supported Internships Programme shortlisted for LGC Award

At the beginning of this year, we submitted the West London Supported Internship Programme for the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Award in their ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ category. We were delighted to be shortlisted for the Award in the Spring.

The judges were particularly interested in entries in this category which very clearly demonstrated that Local Authorities had created initiatives which significantly and directly increased opportunities for all under-represented groups within the community, and citizens who had hitherto been excluded from life-fulfilling opportunities, to prosper and to play a full and equal part in society.

The West London Supported Internships Programme does just that through developing and commissioning programmes to support young people with learning disabilities and autism to gain the skills and experience required to move into employment. The programme raises awareness and expectations of the possibilities of employment with these young people, their families and education providers and transforms lives through helping these young people to gain sustainable employment. It has been highly successful in doing this.

The LGC stated in its Awards publication : “Sometimes an initiative is developed and championed within local government which is transformatory – providing a step-change in opportunities for inclusion, diversity in the workplace and increased well-being. Supported Internships – employment-focussed skills acquisition and training programmes for young people 18-24 with learning disabilities or difficulties and Special Educational Needs (SEN) is one of those initiatives, with over 65% of interns gaining employment. Seven West London boroughs are working in close partnership to deliver a highly successful Supported Internship Programme, which has placed more than 225 young people into employment since 2015.”

We’re so proud that the programme has received this recognition and look forward to delivering even more success for our young people in the years ahead.

To find out more about the Supported Internships Programme, please visit our programme page or contact Chris Delger, the Project Manager: DelgerC@ealing.gov.uk

Michelle Donelan MP meeting participants on the programme in January 2020.