Leonard Cheshire have launched their 2020 internship programme and local SNP MSP Tom Arthur is encouraging his constituents and local businesses to get involved. The award-winning scheme offers paid summer internships to students and graduates with long-term health conditions or disabilities.
Since 2014, the Change 100 programme has partnered with over a hundred of the UK’s leading employers to offer internship opportunities and organisers say the scheme is now heading for its ‘biggest year’.
Open for 2020 applications until 8 January, Change 100 – the only internship scheme especially for disabled students – matches eligible young people with an employer for three months of paid work experience.
Employer and intern alike both receive extensive support and advice from the Change 100 team to ensure that both get the most from the placement, which is open to young people with “physical, visual or hearing impairments, mental health conditions, and learning disabilities and difficulties like dyslexia and dyspraxia”, covering a large range of disabilities.
The programme also supports businesses by giving advice and guidance on how to support employees with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
Commenting, the Renfrewshire South MSP said:
“The world of work can be daunting for students and recent graduates, no matter their circumstances or background.
“Leonard Cheshire’s Change 100 programme takes important steps to break down barriers people with disabilities or long-term health conditions may face when getting into employment and promotes inclusivity in the workplace.
“This is an excellent opportunity and I would encourage any of my constituents who are eligible, as well as local businesses looking to take on interns, to get involved with the scheme.”
NOTES
- Apply here – applications close on 8 January at 10am.
- You must be in your penultimate or final year of university, or have graduated in the last two years. Eligibility criteria
- Application tips.
- If you have any questions regarding the programme or your eligibility, please contact Leonard Cheshire on 020 3242 0299 or email change100applications@leonardcheshire.org
- Interested businesses can enquire by emailing change100@leonardcheshire.org.