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New programme helping adults with learning disabilities to climb career ladder

A new partnership has started to help provide young adults with special educational needs and disabilities with work experience.

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Christina Martin and Kate Gibbs pose with Tylar and Eloise, two of the youngsters involved in the project. Photo: Shaun Fellows / Shine Pix Ltd

Merry Hill is working with Dudley College of Technology to bring its Supported Internship Programme to the centre as the first major employer in the Dudley area to get involved.

Through this structured work-based study programme, Merry Hill is giving four young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) the opportunity to take their first steps into work.

Each of the young adults have commenced six-month-long placements at the centre from January to June 2023.

The introduction of the Supported Internship programme at Merry Hill comes in time for the inaugural National Supported Internship Day being recognised on March 27 in the UK.

The awareness day seeks to challenge the everyday misconceptions and pre-set work cultures that shape the lives of young adults with a learning disability and autism across the UK.

It also comes off the back of a mission to double the number of supported internships in England to 4,500 per year by March 2025.

Christina Martin, Retail Liaison Manager at Merry Hill, said: "The Supported Internship Programme is a fantastic scheme which is giving these young adults the chance to grow their skills and confidence alongside our amazing teams at Merry Hill.

"Thanks to the intern’s eagerness to progress and learn, they have already been a huge success and we’re enjoying supporting their journey.

“As a leading local employer, we know it’s our duty to help our community access support and opportunities.

"We encourage other businesses in our community to consider supporting the programme and to help recognise the importance of these internship placements for the huge platform they offer young adults in the local area with special educational needs and disabilities.”

Kate Gibbs, Aspire Job Coach at Dudley College of Technology, said: “Supported internships provide a programme for learners to move from education into employment.

"The interns spend most of their time in the workplace with the support of a specially trained job coach, who will help them gain confidence and independence, enabling them to become valued members of staff.

“The involvement of local employers is key in creating accessible opportunities for paid employment for local young people with SEND.

“Merry Hill have gone above and beyond working alongside Dudley College of Technology to offer inspirational and professional support for those taking their first steps into the world of work, towards paid employment.”

To be eligible for the programme, young adults aged 16-24 with SEND must have Educational Healthcare Plan (EHCP) and currently be enrolled in full-time education.

For more information on Supported Internships through the Dudley College of Technology, go to dudleycol.ac.uk/ or email: susan.thornton@dudleycol.ac.uk.

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