2023-06-01 09:41:17
Liverpool intern wins award for most progress as he navigates the world of work
Joe, an intern who worked behind the scenes at the recent Eurovision Song Contest, has won an award for Most Progress in Hft’s Project SEARCH Celebration Event, held recently to highlight the incredible journeys interns and graduates on the programme have been on over the past 12 months.
Joe, who is supported by national learning disability charity Hft and is enrolled on the DFN Project SEARCH employability programme, was nominated for his data entry skills and significant development in a short amount of time.
“When the onsite team first met Joe last August, he was very shy and quiet,” says Amanda Muir, employability coach at Hft. “After getting to know him, he was job matched to the Liverpool Central Library where he got to work with adults in a quiet setting and this is where you could see the huge changes in his mood, personality and character.”
The opportunity to work at Eurovision came about when Joe started his third and final placement in the Culture and Finance department at Liverpool City Council.
In his role as a Culture and Finance Admin Support Officer, he performed various behind-the-scenes tasks such as filing, post management, stock taking, sorting deliveries, data input and invoice management. His dedication and commitment were instrumental in supporting the smooth operation of the event.
Despite initially not being a fan of Eurovision, Joe quickly became engrossed in the event. “I watched the show with my family as it involved Liverpool and I was working along the team who made it happen,” he explains.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t recognise anyone famous, as I was too busy keeping up to date with work in the office. I worked at The Village during the day, setting things up for the afternoon/evening shows.”
Joe explains, “I felt nervous when I first knew about this supported internship but, when I started my first placement in the Central Library, I knew I made the right choice. I really enjoyed it. I did some physical tasks such as organising the books on the shelves. I learnt computer skills too. I was scanning books and entering them into the system.
“My second placement was in private housing. It was different from the Central Library because I had to use a system called Tascomi on behalf of the Homes for Ukraine programme. I also scanned sheets of paperwork for property application forms and I got to go out on external visits to various sites taking pictures.
Reflecting on his experience of the internships, Joe says: “Please consider an internship. It has helped me gain so much more confidence in the working world and has helped me to talk to people I don’t know.
“I have made friends too and I like working with the staff in the departments. It is so different to being in college. I cannot wait to start working in a paid job and I never thought I would be ready for employment without starting this programme and having the support from my coach. My advice is to try new things and don’t be worried about being nervous as you will have support to help you.”
This is the second year that Hft has held the awards ceremony and this year 20 interns and graduates across England and Wales are being recognised for their commitment and hard work.
“Each and every intern is deserving of celebration – their journeys all involve learning a range of new skills, hard work and dedication. We want to acknowledge these achievements, and shine a light on the stories of the interns and graduates we are supporting,” says Bryony Dolby, National Programme Co-ordinator (Project SEARCH) at Hft.
“Hft is incredibly privileged to work with a wide range of supportive and inclusive partner organisations and a cohort of talented, hardworking interns and graduates. Our team of Employability Coaches works with partners to provide tailored support to interns and graduates to give them the opportunity to gain and develop the skills needed for paid work in their chosen career.
“Year after year we are blown away by the commitment shown by those we are supporting, their positive attitude and perseverance towards achieving their goals. This year has been no exception. Joe is a well-deserved winner of this award, as he has shown how he has embraced contributing in the workplace, being professional and continuing his personal development.”
Notes to editors
For further information please email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk
About Hft
Proudly established in 1962 by a group of visionary parents, Hft is a charity supporting more than 2,500 learning disabled adults in England and Wales. Together, we are creating a future where learning disabled people and their families can live the best life possible.
Providing personalised support. Creating solutions for living independently. Coming together to campaign for positive change. Fundraising for new opportunities and a bigger impact.
In 2033, we’ll live in a world where learning disabled people have greater choice. About where they live. The support they need and want. And how to spend their time and money.
Learning disability versus difficulty
A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty but the terms are often confused and used inter-changeably. A learning difficulty does not affect general intellect, whereas a learning disability is a life-long condition characterised by a reduced intellectual ability and struggle with everyday activities.
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For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
