My day started with a trip over to the Redbridge Supported Internship site. It was nice walking in and seeing the young people and staff again. A good chance to reconnect, especially since I haven’t been at Redbridge much recently. I spent the morning in the classroom, observing, listening, and getting a feel for the atmosphere.
One thing that stood out straight away was the way Yasmin, the tutor, ran her session. She had a natural way of keeping everyone engaged and on track, even though everyone in the room was at their own stage of learning. It didn’t feel forced just calm, clear, and supportive. At one point I had a quick chat with one of the young people, and before I knew it, I was being offered a Ferrero Rocher because it was someone’s birthday. The whole class sang and celebrated together, which added a warm, positive vibe to the morning.
Before long, it was lunchtime. When we came back, Andrew and Dean led some group activities. One of the best moments was when Dean asked, “who here feels ready for work?” Some hands went up; some didn’t and that honesty opened the door for the next question: “what do we need to do to help you feel ready?” That sparked some great conversations, with young people sharing their thoughts, ideas, and what support they feel would help them most. It was a reminder of how important it is to listen to young people’s voices, not just assume what they need.
Overall, the Redbridge visit was really positive. I took notes on things that stood out, both things I want to remember for my own practice, and things the young people said that were genuinely helpful. Sometimes just sitting in the classroom with them gives you a fresh perspective and reminds you why their voices matter in shaping how we support them.
By 3:00pm, it was home time for the interns and time for me, Judith, and Andrew to head over to the TfL Supported Internship site. Judith is doing her yearly visits across all Children and Young People Services buildings, and honestly, it’s powerful to see. It’s basically the senior management version of “Intern Voice Calls,” but focused on staff. It gives staff across different sites a chance to speak openly, share ideas, raise concerns, and get answers directly from someone who can make change happen. It’s a win‑win, staff feel heard and leadership gets real insight into what’s happening on the ground.
Walking into the TfL site, I was genuinely impressed. It’s the most modern and professional looking building I’ve visited so far. The entrance was colourful and welcoming, and the security system with lanyards needed to get through the barriers added a sense of safety and professionalism. One of the young people gave me a tour, showing me the kitchen where I discovered a coffee machine that makes an amazing creamy latte, the seating areas, and the classroom. I also put up a couple of Youth Voice Promise posters to brighten up the space.
To end the day, I sat in on Judith’s meeting with the staff. The discussions were full of useful points from staff experiences to some of the statistics Judith shared about the charity. It was one of those moments where you realise how important it is to have everyone in the same room, talking honestly about what’s working and what needs improving.
The whole day reminded me how valuable it is to be present to listen, observe, and learn from both staff and young people. Every visit gives you something new to think about, and this one left me feeling inspired about how we can keep improving the support we offer to our interns.
