Supported Internships at Amazon Open Career Paths for Young People with SEND
Supported internships are structured work-based study programmes for young people aged 16 to 24 with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or equivalent.
The internships equip young people with the skills, experience and confidence they need to secure paid, meaningful employment. For young people with a learning disability and/or who are autistic, barriers to employment are particularly acute, with fewer than 5% of adults known to local authorities currently in paid employment across England, despite 86% wanting to work.
Supported internships at Amazon combine classroom education and practical work experience in a number of roles, all within an Amazon fulfilment centre, where items are stored, packed and shipped. Many young people who have completed a supported internship at Amazon have gone on to secure permanent roles at the company.
Josh Blackmore and Luke Jordan are among more than 80 people with SEND who will graduate from a supported internship across 17 Amazon sites this year.
Josh and Luke were both at college studying Independent Living Skills before joining the supported internship programme at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea.
During their supported internships, both worked between customer returns and the company's order picking department. Their roles at Amazon were their first experiences of being part of a workplace team.
'You get your fair share of weird things to pick and return for Amazon customers,' said Josh. 'That's what makes it such a fun job.
'It's also easy to make mistakes when you're working in returns, as you have to use a lot of personal judgement. What I love about the team at Amazon is that they don't define people by their mistakes.
'I was scared that I'd be made to feel like a failure if I got something wrong, but that just wasn't the case. Even the best people at their job makes mistakes sometimes. Learning to not let my mistakes define me was an important lesson for me throughout my supported internship, and that was shown to me by the Amazon team.'
Luke added:
'People are helpful at Amazon, and they've supported me as I've learned. That made doing the job a lot easier. I've loved doing new stuff.'
Both Josh and Luke highlight learning how to fold clothes as one of the best skills they've learned during their time working in returns at Amazon.
'Being able to fold clothes properly helps me keep my room a bit tidier at home,' said Josh. 'That's a funny skill to talk about, but it's made a difference to my personal life.'
'However, my proudest achievement is that I've learned to travel independently thanks to going to Amazon for work every day. I have mobility issues, and I hadn't been going anywhere on my own before coming to work.
'Having to get to work was the push I needed towards independence. I can get the bus on my own now, and I'm even going as far as Port Talbot to meet my friends. That wouldn't have been possible before my supported internship, so I'm grateful for the freedom it's given me.'
Luke notes how working at Amazon has improved his reading skills. Some of his work involves reading sentences on screens, and he was given tools to help him break down and understand what was being communicated.
Luke has received a permanent job offer from Amazon to continue building his skills following his supported internship. Josh wants to use the skills he's learned through this first professional job to help him open doors for jobs in the television and film industry. He'll be taking part in another tailored employment support pathway to help get him there.
'I want to find the role that's right for me in a creative industry,' he said.
Josh and Luke's success was celebrated at a graduation ceremony at the Swansea fulfilment centre, which was attended by their families and Amazon colleagues.
Angela Smith, a Gower College and DFN Project Search tutor, added:
'Josh brought lots of fun to the supported internship this year. He is an articulate and generous young man who brings passion and dedication to everything he does in the workplace.
'He has also been a superb ambassador for the Amazon programme outside of Swansea, attending the first Youth Parliament Forum in Westminster, London on National Supported Internship Day back in March, where he courageously addressed the Minister for Disabilities and Social Security, Sir Stephen Tims, and held the room to advocate on behalf of people who have disabilities and want to work in the UK.
'Over the past year, Josh has worked hard to develop his emotional resilience, learning to accept that things do not always go to plan in work and to remember he is never alone – there is someone who can help fix an issue and offer support when needed.
'Luke has excelled in Amazon, not only learning new skills but in developing his resilience to work independently. His work ethic is now excellent, and he has learned how to align doing tasks to the best of his ability with the high standards of quality expected for Amazon's customers.
'Luke has worked hard to adapt to making some essential lifestyle changes, so he can be fit for work every day. Over the last couple of months, I think I have actually seen Luke grow taller as his confidence has blossomed, and his eyes have opened wider. He's chattier and quicker to smile, and where he used to walk a little tired and dragging his feet he now walks with a sense of purpose in and around the busy customer returns department.
'Without question Luke has become someone who will be a very valuable asset in any team.'
The supported internship programme at Amazon was launched in 2021 in a bid to see more young people with SEND enter the workforce. It was expanded in 2023 through an ongoing partnership with national charity DFN Project Search. Since the launch of the programme, more than 160 young people have started a supported internship with Amazon, making the company one of the UK's largest providers of supported internships.
Kirsty Matthews, CEO of DFN Project Search, said:
'We are incredibly proud of Josh and Luke and all those completing their supported internships this year. Each and every one of our interns graduating has shown that with the right support and opportunities, young people with a learning disability, who are autistic, or both, can thrive in the workplace.
'Our partnership with Amazon continues to open doors that might otherwise have been closed, proving that inclusive employment isn't just the right thing to do – it's good for business. Every success story like Josh and Luke's shows what is possible when we invest in the potential of our young people.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The area where parents would pay £81,000 MORE to buy a home near a good school
Parents are willing to pay tens of thousands of pounds extra for a home in the catchment area of a top state school - and Labour's VAT hike on private school fees is driving up competition. According to Santander, parents would pay an average of £45,000 extra to secure a home in the catchment of an Ofsted-rated 'good' school. Almost three in four parents say they would be willing to pay over the odds to live in an area where their children would be prioritised for a place at such a school. On average, parents would be willing to pay 15 per cent more to live within 'good' catchment boundaries, some £44,736 extra on top of the Halifax House price index's average price tag of £298,237. School catchment areas are the geographic areas around a school and children who live in that area are usually considered first when it comes to places. Some 73 per cent are willing to pay a premium to secure a spot in one of these areas - and this has jumped compared to 63 per cent last year as competition heats up for state school spots. Private school fee hike drives up competition Places in top state schools are the latest hot commodity after January's VAT hike of as much as 20 per cent on school fees. VAT had never before been charged on private school payments, but Labour's manifesto revealed it would scrap the exemption for private schools, which previously saw them free of the 20 per cent tax. This came into force in January of this year in a bid to bolster the Treasury's dwindling coffers. And competition for state school spots is only set to get hotter, as 21 per cent of parents say they plan to pull their children out of private schools in the wake of the higher fees. Of this group, some 69 per cent say they would relocate to get their children into the best state school catchments, Santander says. David Morris, head of homes at Santander, says: 'Parents are understandably digging deep into their financial and emotional reserves to give their children a great education. 'There is good news for parents however, as a record number of properties coming to the market, combined with stabilising interest rates and improved affordability, will hopefully help some of them bag an outstanding home in their dream catchment area.' What's the good school premium in YOUR area? London parents willing to pay an extra 15 per cent to buy their home would have to fork out an extra £81,000 on the average house price, bringing the total to £620,901. In the south east it's a £58,239 hike to £446,499, while in the east of England it's a £50,174 jump to £384,668. In the east midlands, parents could pay £36,777 more, in the west midlands it's a £39,040 premium while in the southwest parents are happy stumping up £45,346 more. For the north west the premium works out at £36,344, in Yorkshire and the Humber it's £32,330, while in Northern Ireland it's £32,225. For Scottish homes, a 15 per cent premium is an extra £32,286 while for Welsh homes it's £34,189. The lowest premium is on homes in the north east homes where a 15 per cent premium works out at £26,588, hiking a home's price tag to £203,839. Such is the clamour for a place at a top school, that some parents say they would be willing to pay an extra 25 per cent on top of the average home's price tag. That's an extra £74,559 on the typical property, which hikes the purchase price to £372,796. NOT all state schools have catchment areas Parents should do their research before they decide to move to a particular area, however, as not all state schools have catchment areas. Admissions could instead be based on entrance test results, so it is vital to check the school's criteria. Even if a school does have catchment area, living in one doesn't guarantee a child's place in a school. The school could be oversubscribed, or prioritise applicants within the catchment area based on test scores. Catchment areas can also change, so there's no guarantee if you buy a house now that your child will later be admitted to the school of your choosing. And not only could that derail any plans for younger children to attend that school, it could cause your house price to take a tumble when it's time to sell as demand falters. But the fight for a spot in a hot catchment area is doing more than just squeeze the finances of these parents. One in three parents say the stress of not getting the desired catchment led to them considering home schooling. Meanwhile three in ten parents have lost friends in the fierce competition for a place in a top school and one in six have had sleepless nights. The new research shows families would also be willing to uproot and move an average of 31 miles to bag a place in a top-tier school, which is nine miles further than a year ago. > Are you pulling your child out of private school? Email Best mortgage rates and how to find them Mortgage rates have risen substantially over recent years, meaning that those remortgaging or buying a home face higher costs. That makes it even more important to search out the best possible rate for you and get good mortgage advice, whether you are a first-time buyer, home owner or buy-to-let landlord. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you To help our readers find the best mortgage, This is Money has partnered with the UK's leading fee-free broker L&C. This is Money and L&C's mortgage calculator can let you compare deals to see which ones suit your home's value and level of deposit. You can compare fixed rate lengths, from two-year fixes, to five-year fixes and ten-year fixes. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use This is Money and L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you.
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
Blackburn with Darwen Council facing possible budget gap of £7.8m
A Lancashire council faces a potential budgeting shortfall of £7.8m by the end of the financial year based on spending figures for the three months to the end of June, it has emerged.A report will be given to Blackburn with Darwen Council this week by councillor Vicky McGurk, who is in charge of finance at the will be asked to develop plans to balance the comes after the council recorded a £4.4m surplus on its budget for the 2024/25 financial year. Ms McGurk's report reveals the biggest predicted overspend is for children, young people and education, totalling £ is despite the forecast outturn for the Schools and Education Dedicated Schools Grant portfolio breaking even, the Local Democracy Reporting Service predicted overspends include:Adult social care and health: £106,000Housing and public health: £95,000Environment and operations: £198,000Growth and development: £1.648mFinance and governance: £247,000Digital and customer services: £280,000Other corporate income and expenditure budgets: £1.853mDocuments prepared in the report said: "The council's medium term financial plan showed a funding gap of £18.8m by 2028/29, with the most immediate issue being a gap of £11.1m in 2026/27."Should there be no further mitigation during the remainder of the financial year, the council would need to draw an additional £7.783m from its reserves and balances to achieve a balanced budget." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
I ditched my job to hunt through car boot sales and now I earn £50k from selling on eBay
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SAVVY seller LUKE Warder has made so much money from flogging unwanted items on eBay that he was able to leave his 9-5 job. The 30-year-old from Hertfordshire began to sell items on eBay after watching YouTube videos of American re-sellers buying secondhand items and selling them on for profit. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Luke Warder made £50,000 last year by selling items on eBay Luke was inspired and began to visit car boot sales, where he bought bargains to sell on himself. His business took off and four years ago he was able to quit his job to start selling on eBay full time. Last year he made a staggering £50,000 from selling clothes on the auction website. He now shares his tips on his YouTube channel, which is called @WardersClobber. Read more on eBay BAG IT I bought a real Louis Vuitton handbag from Japanese eBay & saved £1,050 Luke also hosts a live podcast on the channel each Wednesday for his 1,300 subscribers. "It became so addictive and fulfilling, and I thought I could definitely do it full time," he said. At first he bought items that he was personally interested in, including gadgets, video games and golfing equipment. But he later realised that he would make more money by buying clothes. Luke said: "If you know what brands and labels to look for and have in-depth knowledge, you can find some great stuff." He recently found a designer Brunello Cucinelli linen suit for £40. The same style suits have been sold recently for £1,000 on eBay. Luke also paid £60 for five pairs of Levi 90s jeans, which sell for between £120-£150 each on eBay. He said: 'Last year I bought a Irvin sheepskin flying jacket for £20 and sold it for £600 - that was pretty cool.' Meanwhile, for just £10 he bought a Chelsea football kit, which he sold earlier this year for £150. Luke said he always goes to car boot sales on a Sunday as this is where you can get the cheapest deals compared to searching for items in charity shops or on apps such as Vinted or Depop. My five second tips make it easier to list on eBay MONEY saving blogger Holly Jay-Smith shares her tips to sell items on eBay. Before you list an item, check if another seller has listed the same one. If you find a listing with lots of detail about an item then there is a super easy trick you can do to lift the information and include it in yours. "Click 'Sell Similar', which fills in a lot of the details for you and gives your listing a better chance of selling because it's based on something that already worked," she said. Think about when you upload items to increase the chance they will sell quickly, she says. "Sunday evenings are a really popular time for people to browse, so try to have your listing go live or end then. "Always use keywords that someone might actually search for – think like a buyer, not a seller." Another way to sell items quickly is to turn on the 'Best Offer' option on your listings. This option allows buyers to directly negotiate a price with you, instead of having to bid on an item. Buyers who think they're getting a fantastic bargain will be more likely to buy from you again. Holly uses this button on all her listings. She says: 'Some people just love to haggle. You stay in control, but they feel like they're getting a deal." Luke said: "Sundays are the best day - the car boots are gigantic, and bigger than on Saturday." But he warns: "You have to get up crazy early though." When it comes to selling the items online, Luke has a formula to make sure each one sells quickly. He gives as much information about the product as possible, to avoid a back and forth with the seller. He explains: "Customers want to know exactly what you are buying, so if you give them all the information, it's a more seamless process. "For me, the most important thing is to increase your knowledge of the items you want to buy and are planning to buy to sell on.' Meanwhile, Luke also takes at least eight pictures of each item, including tags, and always gives measurements. To make sure the items sell quickly he regularly lists new clothes on his profile. This is because the algorithm favours sellers who list each day, which he believes pushes his items to buyers. "When I was listing two items a day, I was selling two items - now I'm listing 12 a day, and I get eight to 12 sales a day," he said. Once an item has sold, Luke makes sure to deliver it as quickly as possible, which buyers see as a selling point. He advertises 'same day dispatch' on every item, which means once someone has bought it he needs to send it by the end of the same day. Your rights as a buyer or seller GET clued up on your rights before buying or selling on eBay. Here's what you need to know. Buyers Buyers are covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee (EMBG). This means you'll be covered if your item doesn't arrive, is faulty or damaged, or isn't what was advertised. Complain to the seller first, but if you're not offered a refund in three days, escalate your complaint to eBay. You will be issued a refund if the seller doesn't provide a solution. If you're not happy with the item, check the seller's return policy. Some may not accept refunds - so take this into account before buying an item. Sellers You must ensure that the items you sell are of good quality and are as described. You can set your own returns policy and decide who pays for the return postage. If the item is returned damaged, you can deduct up to 50% of the refund to cover the lost value. Use eBay's own delivery service, or use a service like Royal Mail, to get tracked delivery service. EBay's own delivery service is Simple Delivery, which costs around £3.38 for a 1-2kg parcel. When you upload valid tracking information about your item, and it is delivered as promised, you are protected if a buyer claims the item has not been received. Take pictures of you packaging and posting the item, so you can prove that the item was sent safely. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
