Two autistic young people have kickstarted their careers with the help of a supported internships programme based at the Whittington Hospital in Archway.
Last month, Luke and Eddy graduated from the work-based study programme set up by Ambitious about Autism, the national charity standing with autistic children and young people.
Supported internships are courses aimed at young people aged 16-25, who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan and want to move into work but need extra support to do so.
Ambitious about Autism, which is based in Muswell Hill, has been working in partnership with the Whittington Hospital since 2019 to offer valuable work placements to autistic young people in a range of roles at the hospital. The programme also offers classroom
learning to the interns aimed at improving their employability skills and independence.
The interns worked in various departments across the hospital, including stores, neurology, and endoscopy, with some young people also working in the local community at an Archway charity shop, Second Chance.
Following this, Luke has secured a role as a play worker at a children’s football club based in south west London, and Eddy will be taking up the position of healthcare assistant in the endoscopy department of the hospital.
Eddy, aged 23, said:
“Graduating from this programme marks a major milestone in my life. I am so proud of everything I have achieved since I joined it and am really excited to start my new career.
“The teams at Ambitious about Autism and the Whittington Hospital have given me incredible opportunities. The supported internships programme proves that with the right support, young people like me can achieve things we never thought were possible.”
Rahma Maina, Supported Internships Lecturer at Ambitious about Autism, who oversees the programme, said:
“We are so proud of everything Luke and Eddy have achieved this year. They have brought so much to their placements at the hospital, and we know they will do the same in their future jobs.
“This programme creates vital opportunities for autistic young people that enable them to be themselves and realise their ambitions.”
Last year, Ambitious about Autism partnered with Chessington World of Adventures, launching its second supported internships programme, and will run two more from September – one with Amazon based in Weybridge, and another with Chartwells based in Brighton.
These programmes are part of the charity’s efforts to tackle the low employment rates faced by autistic people. Currently, only 30% of autistic people are in any form of work.
Find out more about Ambitious about Autism’s supported
internships programme.
