‘Brimming with pride’

When Bradfields Academy in Chatham, Kent, approached Medway Mail Centre plant manager Neil Molloy, asking about the possibility of a supported internship for three of their students with learning restrictions, we were happy to oblige.

Bradfields Academy is an innovative special educational needs and disability (SEND) school for students with complex learning disabilities and difficulties including speech, language, emotional, sensory, physical and autistic spectrum disabilities.

There are more than six million people of working age in the UK, who are disabled or have a long-term health condition. Currently, only 6% of those will find employment of 16 hours or more. For this reason, Bradfields Academy launched its supported internship programme in September 2018. 

Supported internships are a structured study programme based at a place of employment. They enable young people aged 16-24 to achieve sustainable paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work. 

Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Alongside their time at the place of employment, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant substantial qualifications, if appropriate, as well as English and maths. Supported internships are so successful because they offer realistic, challenging and purposeful work placements.

Following a period of training in January, River Everitt, James Stevens, and Daniel Whybrow, started work in the mail centre across two shifts. Since then, they have integrated into the plant seamlessly and shown that they can sort mail to a high standard and have a sound grasp of PDA usage.

Last month the principals of Bradfields Academy came to the plant to celebrate their three students receiving their achievement certificates, which were presented by Neil Molloy. So successful was the project that Medway Mail Centre could well be taking on a new set of students when the current three see their 35-week placement end.

Larry Jenner, production supply manager, who led on the project along with charity champion, Tim Hyde, who provided the students with their uniforms, said: ‘It was an honour to be involved in this project from the first moment we met the principals from Bradfields.

‘To see River, James and Daniel evolve into the characters we see today is in itself a privilege, and we very much look forward to further involvement with the Academy.’

Liz Halton, Vice Principal, Bradfields Academy, thanked everyone at Medway Mail Centre who took part in training and organising the internship. After the students received their certificates, she said: ‘It was great to see the boys brimming with pride like that.’