Students who overcame personal challenges to enter the world of work were invited up on stage at the Shaping Portsmouth annual conference.
Will Hazzard and Rachel Mengham both completed Supported Internships with HSDC, and were invited to speak in front of 300 people about their experiences of securing employment.
Supported Internships are a personalised study programme for learners aged 16 to 24 who have additional support needs and a desire to work.
Learners take part in work placements, whilst at the same time attending college one day a week to continue with Mathematics, English and other relevant skills.
The pair took part in the Disability Confident session led by Chris Hillman of the Minstead Trust, joining three other young people from across the area.
All of the speakers were at different stages of their employment journey, including a Hovertravel customer service assistant and a supported intern from the pathology department of Queen Alexandra Hospital.
Will felt nervous before heading on stage in front of hundreds of conference guests, but he had a fantastic experience. Will said:
“To be up on stage at the Shaping Portsmouth conference was an absolute honour! I am so passionate about sharing my experiences, which is why I felt it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss, and being able to speak was such a fun experience.
“Hearing the other young people’s journeys was also an eye opener for me, as everyone has achieved and have managed to do what they dream of in employment.”
Rachel, who began her Supported Internship in the college cafés, has gone from strength to strength since leaving college, taking on a traineeship, an Apprenticeship and is now on the junior management programme at Lily & Lime Café in Portsmouth.
During the event, Rachel spoke about the huge improvement she has seen in her confidence since her time at college, developing abilities she never had and making friends through her job.
Will, who has Tourette’s Syndrome and anxiety, works full time as a support worker with Dimensions, supporting adults with learning disabilities in a shared flat. Will said:
“I am loving my current role as a support worker. It is such a rewarding job getting to help adults with learning difficulties to live independently through our support. I have always thrived on helping other people through similar struggles that I have faced, which is why I feel suited to the role.”
Will completed a placement with Blue Reef Aquarium during his Supported Internship, where he progressed from working with the animal care team to working with the visitor services team and in the café.
This experience helped Will gain a lot of confidence and he worked hard to overcome the difficulties presented by his Tourette’s Syndrome. He said:
“I enjoyed everything about the internship and my time at HSDC. It opened up a whole range of opportunities and allowed me to fully realise my potential. I just needed a slight push to get out there and show my range of skills, which the college gave me.
“I just want to say a little message, that no one should let their struggles/disabilities stop them from achieving. I used to think I would never be able to work, that my Tourette’s syndrome and anxiety were too bad and that I would never achieve, but being on the internship changed my life and allowed me to be a whole different person. I have still faced struggles along the way but overall I am happier than I have ever been.”
Both of the ex-HSDC students spoke confidently on stage at Shaping Portsmouth, said how much they loved their jobs and talked about what they had learned along the way.
Helen Robinson, Supported Internships Tutor, said:
“I am so proud of Rachel and Will who have shown that with determination and hard work you can overcome significant barriers and challenges to find a job you love.
“Both started at HSDC as Supported Interns and have proven without a doubt that they are valued employees in their workplaces.”
Find out more about Supported Internships on the HSDC website, or any students with an EHCP can contact helen.robinson@hsdc.ac.uk to discuss further. You can watch our students on stage at the conference in the video below.