Bedford Borough Council has hosted a special ceremony to celebrate the young people who have just completed their year-long Supported Internships programme.
Celebrating their achievements were Sophie Plummer, Jonah Fielden, Ewan Hartup and Cosmo Peduto, who all took part in the programme, which is jointly run by the council and Bedford College, with the support of local employers.
The programme is open to young people aged 18-24, who have autism and/or learning disabilities and an EHCP, and are keen to enter the workforce.
Each of the young people completed sessions with Bedford College on creating CVs, interview techniques and employability skills, alongside work placements
The graduation ceremony took place at The Bedford Sixth Form on Bromham Road.
After receiving certificates from Mayor of Bedford Tom Wootton (Conservative) and the Council’s service director for education, SEND & Schools Chris Morris, the interns enjoyed an afternoon tea with their families.
Mayor Tom said: “It’s always a special moment to see our Supported Interns complete this journey.
“They have grown not just in their skills but in confidence and maturity. They deserve so much credit and should be so proud of themselves.
“I look forward to seeing where they go next.”
Making a difference
Speaking about their achievements, Chris Morris said: “All of our interns have been through their own journey, and they have all shown how special each of them is.
“Jonah has shown himself as a real asset wherever he has gone – friendly, approachable, and always keen to try new things. He even took a chance on joining in with children’s Rhyme Time at the Library, something no other intern had been brave enough to do before him
“Ewan began working at Munch & Mocha, and within just an hour of his first day he was already serving customers and operating the till independently before going on to help train other staff on the till system himself.
“Cosmo’s placement at Robinson Pools & Fitness saw him grow into someone confidently running gym safety checks, creating social media content, and even designing posters for their events.
“And Sophie, who now has paid employment following her internship, has also stood up and spoken publicly at both our Supported Internship Information Event and Bedford College’s Employer Event.”
You can find out more about applying for next year’s Supported Interns programme here.
