On Monday 8 July, our Steps into Work 2024 Supported Interns attended their graduation event at Stratford. Organised and hosted by Transport for London the event provided a warm and encouraging environment celebrating the intern’s achievements.
Attended by TfL staff, Shaw Trust staff, the interns and their family members, Shaw Trust’s CEO Chris Luck and one of our Trustee’s Lara Oyesanya, their attendance for our interns contributed to making this day truly memorable. Lara spoke with our interns on an individual level and was keen to learn what they had achieved whilst on the internship and the interns were extremely happy to oblige and talk with Lara about the fantastic experiences and opportunities, they had taken part in.
Three of our interns Jack, George, and Toufik gave speeches about their experiences on the Supported internship programme. The interns shared how they were nervous to start, but they quickly made new friends with their fellow interns, got to know their job coaches and that the programme has improved their confidence and work skills. With George sharing his own personal challenges during the internship and that the team provided an extra layer of support that he really needed and appreciated.
During their time on the supported internship these young people gained valuable work experience, qualifications such as Functional Skills as well as taking part in classroom sessions around communication, teamwork and organisational skills.
Shaw Trust are extremely grateful to TfL for the opportunities they provide for our interns and the incredible working relationship they have with us to ensure that our interns receive the best possible experience. Amrita, a Skills and Employment Delivery Adviser for TfL said, “The support of everyone coming together really sums up in my mind the fantastic partnership we have!”
Lorretta, one of our Supported Internship team leaders delivered a speech at the event sharing stories of how Daniel, an intern had attended a careers fair with her in London to promote the internship. On that day Daniel had spoken with over 150 young people, parents, carers and education professionals about his time on the internship. Throughout the entire day she explained that Daniel was a true professional and displayed great confidence in inspiring the next cohort of interns. She finished her speech with “well done and congratulations on all that you have achieved. We are going to miss you, but we wish you all the very best for the future and thank you for showing us why every journey matters.” This speech from Lorretta is a shining example of the important and vital work that our job coaches and placement employers are doing day in and day out.
Finally, I leave you with words from Chris Luck, our CEO “Partnerships such as this with TfL, who embrace the need to proactively shape interventions, support us in achieving our aim to create opportunity. This is a wonderful example of what can be achieved; a commitment to neurodivergent young people through a 12-month work experience programme. This individual-centered, joined-up initiative is essential to our young people’s journey to individual agency, more purpose, and I hope freedom”.
Thank you to all that contributed to the graduation event, the placements and the support of our young people on the Steps into Work internship. Seeing them being happy and successful in completing their internships and obtaining paid employment after graduating is one of the most rewarding parts of our jobs, and we cannot wait to see how they grow and flourish in the future.
