Learn about supported internships for young people with special educational needs and disabilities, the difference between internships and supported internships, and how to find them.
Internships give you work experience with a company to help you prepare for the kind of job you want to do. They can be paid or unpaid. They can be anything from a week to a year long, but are usually for a few months. Internships are for anyone, not just people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Supported internships help young people with SEND to get the skills they need for work. They are structured study programmes, based mainly at an employer. This means you get lots of work experience, with the help of a job coach. You will also have a personalised study programme to help you get skills and qualifications to prepare you for paid work.
Supported internships take between 6 months to a year and are usually unpaid.
You must be aged 16 to 24 years old and have an Education, Health and Care plan to do a supported internship.
Read the Accessible Guide to Supported Internships from Preparing for Adulthood.
Before you look for an internship or supported internship, it’s useful to think about:
You can search and apply for internships on the GOV.UK website.
Local charity Amaze offers paid internships with Amazing Futures, their project for young people with SEND.
Leonard Cheshire offers internships for students and recent graduates with disabilities.
You can search for supported internships on our SEND directory of services.
Your sixth form or college can help you find an internship.
Amazing Futures career support offers support to young people aged 14 to 25 with SEND to move towards work. This can include help to find an internship or supported internship.