New internship opportunity for Portsmouth’s young people with specialist needs

A new supported internship for young people aged 18 – 24 years old with specialist needs in Portsmouth will launch in September. The council and the City of Portsmouth College have joined forces to develop a new programme that helps young people prepare for the world of work.

If young people have an educational health care plan (EHCP) and/or special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND), this scheme acts as a steppingstone towards paid work.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:

“Portsmouth has always led the way with programmes that support young people with specialist needs. This new supported internship has been designed to help young people build confidence and skills that are important before starting a new job.

“Internships are a great way to experience what it’s like to work in an organisation with the added benefit of being supported during the process. The programme is a fantastic first step towards finding independence and employment in the city.”

Young people who start the programme will spend three days a week on work experience accompanied by a job coach. The other two days will include studying a qualification in employability, functional maths and English at the City of Portsmouth College.

Those who enrol will have the opportunity to work in a café, a museum or a library. Other opportunities could include administrative tasks and warehouse work.

To be eligible for the Portsmouth Supported Internship programme, young people must be:

• 18 – 24 years old
• have an educational health care plan / specialist needs
• live in a PO1 – PO6 postcode

The programme starts from September and runs through to April 2024. For more information on the internship, visit portsmouth.gov.uk/supportedinternship