Supported Internships for young people on Exmoor

The Exmoor Supported Internship Programme is delivered by SS&L in partnership with Young Somerset, local employers, and Somerset Council’s ‘Imagine the Possibilities’ initiative.

Supported Internships are designed for young people who want to work but may need some additional support to get there. This programme combines real work experience with structured learning and personalised support. Supported internships are a great opportunity to improve the life chances of young people with SEND or other challenges by supporting them into sustained, paid employment – while meeting the needs of local employers.

This programme has been developed with the support of the Exmoor Pioneers programme, which is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a legacy to CareMoor for Exmoor.

Philippa Hill is Coordinator of the Exmoor Pioneers programme with ENPA. She said:

“I’m incredibly excited to see the Exmoor Support Internship Programme launch. We know that there are many young people in the Exmoor area who want to work but struggle to find opportunities that provide the support they need. Through this programme we can offer those young people a chance to develop skills and show the world what they can do.”

Julie Young from Somerset Council said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to be launching the Exmoor Supported Internship as one of the newest Supported Internship Programme offers within the Imagine the Possibilities initiative. This is a truly inspiring partnership between Somerset Council, SS&L, Young Somerset, and the incredibly inclusive organisations across Exmoor and West Somerset. Special thanks go to Exmoor National Park Authority for the role they have played in getting this off the ground. Together, we’re creating real pathways into employment and independence for young people in the area, opening doors to meaningful opportunities right here in their own communities. I’m so excited to see the positive impact this internship will have for our interns, our employers, and the wider Exmoor community.”

Young Somerset would be providing job coaching support from the young people on the scheme. Siobhan Gallagher, Head of Targeted Youth Services for Young Somerset, said, “This supported internship partnership between SS&L, Exmoor National Park and Young Somerset shows what’s possible when organisations come together around a shared commitment to young people. Through this collaboration, we’re able to offer tailored, real-world experiences, develop practical skills and support young people -particularly those who may face additional barriers -into meaningful employment. Young Somerset are proud to adapt their Job Coaching model on this internship to provide support alongside young people as they move towards a more positive and sustainable future.”

Philippa continued: “Within ENPA, we expect to offer supported internships focusing on woodland creation and management, estate and historic environment management, and administration. More broadly, the Exmoor Supported Internship programme will likely offer roles in sectors as varied as farming, horticulture, customer services, and hospitality. It’s been wonderful to see employers in the greater Exmoor area come forward to offer local young people a chance. “

Shaun Pavey is the Course Lead for SS&L. He said:

“We’re really proud to see our Supported Internships reaching more communities like Exmoor and opening up new opportunities for young people. We understand that taking the first step into work can feel daunting, but with the right support, it can be a positive and achievable experience. Our focus is on making things simple and supportive for young people, families and employers, building confidence and practical skills in real workplaces. If you’re thinking about getting involved, we’re always happy to talk things through.”

If you’re a young person, parent, carer, professional or employer who would like to find out more about the Exmoor Supported Internship Programme or register your interest, visit https://www.sslcourses.co.uk/school-leavers/supported-internships/ search “SS&L Supported Internships”, or call 0330 332 7997.

Notes to Editors

About National Supported Internship Day 

National Supported Internship Day was established in 2022 and takes place annually on March 27th. NSID was created to raise national awareness of supported internships as a proven and effective transition-to-work pathway for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

About Supported Internships 

Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme for 16- to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan. The core aim of a supported internship study programme is a substantial work placement, facilitated by the support of an expert job coach.

Supported interns are enrolled in full-time education and their work placements are part of their course. Typically, they spend around 70 per cent of their time in the workplace and 30 per cent in their school or college.

Supported internships provide the opportunity for young people to achieve sustained, paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace and support from their learning provider.

The aim of supported internships is to support young people with an EHC plan to gain paid employment by:

-Supporting them to develop the skills valued by employers

-Enabling them to demonstrate their value in the workplace

-Developing confidence in their own abilities to perform successfully at work

About the Exmoor Pioneers programme 

Exmoor Pioneers is a four-year programme that seeks to connect people to the natural and cultural heritage of the former Royal Forest in the heart of Exmoor, support nature recovery, protect heritage at risk, and develop the skills needed to support this landscape in the future. Exmoor Pioneers is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional funding from a generous legacy from the late Cynthia Hadley to ‘CareMoor for Exmoor’ and support from BMW, Historic England, Defra, National Parks England, and the Forestry Commission.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund 

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.

We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.

We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk