Student lives changed for the better

Warrington students, Sadie Jones and Adam Covell, have been given a leg up on the career ladder as part of a groundbreaking special educational needs internship at the town’s state-of-the-art care village, Belong Warrington. They, and other students, will now benefit from improved life chances and greater workplace opportunities as a result of the scheme.
Sadie, 18, who attends Green Lane Community School in Woolston, and 20-year-old Adam, a student of Warrington and Vale Royal College, are both undertaking the ‘supported internship’, a government initiative designed to help young people with learning difficulties or disabilities gain the skills and experience needed to achieve full-time employment. Belong Warrington is a chosen employer for the programme and has been working alongside local schools and colleges since 2017,to provide students with personalised and meaningful placements.
Sadie, who showed an interest in social care from an early age, has helped to run Belong Warrington’s vibrant activities programme three times a week. On the impact of the internship, Sadie said: “Working at Belong has changed my life. I go home every day with a big smile on my face, and for the first time, I know exactly what I want to do, which is to pursue a career in care. And I hope to apply for a permanent position at the village when I finish school.”
Keen to encourage Sadie’s love of the care sector and foster her natural ability, Belong have also arranged for her to undertake a two-day dementia training course at the village. Meanwhile,
Adam is enjoying his placement at the village’s hair salon. He commented: “This hands-on experience has helped me improve my technical skills and given me the confidence to challenge myself to learn more. It is great work experience in a friendly environment, I would definitely recommend it to other students.”
Speaking of the internship programme, Stephen Capper of Green Lane Community Special School, commented: “Belong understands the employment problems faced by young people with special educational needs and really embraces the programme to provide students with much sought after work experience and training. As a result, we see a change in the focus, attitude and commitment of these students and I have no doubt they will go on to have successful careers.”
Rebecca Woodcock, acting manager at Belong Warrington, said: “It’s a pleasure to work alongside these students. Not only do they bring new and innovative ideas to the village, but they also build genuine relationships with our residents. We are really proud to be chosen as a flagship organisation for the supported internship programme and look forward to providing more top quality placements going forward.”
Supported internships are open to young people aged 16-24 years old with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. The educational establishments involved are now welcoming applications for the next academic year.