Project Choice - supported internships for 16 to 24-year-olds - Camden Rise

Project Choice – Royal Free Hospital applications are now open for the next academic year, starting September 2022.

Project Choice is a Specialist Post-16 College providing work experience, as well as a supported internship programme, that helps young adults aged 16 to 24 with disabilities, learning disabilities, difficulties and/or autism to gain work experience and improve their employability and independence skills. The College is NHS-based within Health Education England. 

Camden Council's Special Educational Needs Team have been working with Project Choice since September 2021. Three young people were placed on the programme at the Royal Free Hospital, in various roles including radiology assistant, café assistant, barista, chef and administration assistant. One has since been offered a paid job at the hospital. 

The programme aims to increase young people’s confidence, social skills, work and employability skills in a wide range of job roles to prepare them for the move from education to employment. As interns, they will spend one year learning work skills in three placements, each up to 12 weeks long.  Four days per week are spent in the placement and one day in the classroom, studying employability skills, as well as functional skills. 

Eligibility criteria: 
•    Aged 16 to 24 with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP)
•    Desire to learn to work through a supported internship
•    Aspiration to find a paid job. 
 
We have up to 14 places for Camden learners. If you're interested in applying, please fill in this online form.

Although the first round of applications closed on 28 February 2022, Camden residents who meet the eligibility criteria can still attend the Project Choice assessment event on Thursday 31 March 2022, from 10am to 1pm. You will need to bring your own lunch or money to buy food.

The address is: Wac Arts, Old Town Hall, 213 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4QP (not the Royal Free). Nearest tube station: Belsize Park (Northern Line).
 
Young people who have applied will also be invited to the assessment day on 31 March. If you have a young person you wish to refer but need some time to complete their application, send their name to sam.brown1@hee.nhs.uk who will ensure they are put onto the referral list immediately.  

In addition, Project Choice offers work experience to young people aged 16 to 24. Although, the Royal Free Hospital is not currently allowing work experience students on site, the team has created a virtual work experience programme for SEN students. This programme is typically included as part of the student's weekly timetable and can be delivered by a teacher or by our Project Choice staff for free. For those interested, please contact jack.brown@hee.nhs.uk and sam.brown1@hee.nhs.uk to discuss trialling this programme in a local school.