Mencap Training Academy
Mencap Training Academy is a specialist post 16 provider delivering
supported internships
A work placement for young people with additional needs, where they get support from a job coach.
. Mencap’s supported internship programme delivers
education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
and training to 16–24-year-olds with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
who have an education, health and care plan.
Our vision is to effectively support more people with a learning disability to move into paid work.
Who can do a supported internship?
To join a supported internship you need to:
- be aged 16 to 24
- have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- want to find a job.
There are no qualification requirements.
What does a supported internship involve?
With a Mencap supported internship you will get to do
work experience
Work experience is when you try out a job to help you learn new skills.
and complete classroom learning about the world of work and skills for the workplace. We also provide additional support for those who need it.
Work experience
 |
Most of the programme is work-based and you will be required to complete at least 420 hours of work experience.
We will find work experience placements for you that match your skills and interests and a Mencap caseworker and job coach will support you in the workplace, helping you to learn tasks and to get the most from your placement.
Visit our 'Who we work with' page to learn more about employers we work with and who offer work experience to learners on our supported internships.
Classroom learning
 |
Our tutors run classes to develop your understanding of the world of work. You will learn about how to find and apply for jobs, and about the skills and behaviours you will need to succeed in the workplace.
We will also help you work toward English and maths qualifications if this is needed.
Additional support
We also provide extra support to learners who need it like travel training.
We can arrange enrichment activities like trips to museums and local heritage sites that support learning and develop your confidence and
independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
.
Where can I find a supported internship?
Locations where we deliver the classroom learning elements of our supported internships programme are below.
You can contact the team most local to you using the contacts below to learn more about the programme and how to enrol, or you can start the enrolment process by completing an expression of interest form.
Birmingham
Lewis Building, Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF
Programme Coordinator: Mia Smith
Email: mia.smith@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 07814938821
Northamptonshire
Suite 2, Charles House, 61-69 Derngate, Northampton NN1 1UE
Programme Coordinator: Anthony Woode
Email: anthony.woode@mencap.org.uk
Staffordshire
- Rising Brook Community Fire Station, Hesketh Road, Stafford ST17 9NF
- Lichfield Community Fire Station, Birmingham Road, Lichfield WS13 6HX
Programme Coordinator: Sarah Fletcher
Email: sarah.fletcher@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 07970 102 610
Worcestershire
County House, St Mary Street, Worcester WR1 1HB
Programme Coordinator: Diane Hughes
Email: Diane.Hughes@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 07941 377734
Central London
80 Holloway Road, London N7 8JG
Programme Coordinator: Tito Gbadamosi
Email: Tito.Gbadamosi@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 07813 723165
North East London
Unit 9/10/11, 80-86 St Mary Road, London E17 9RE
Programme Coordinator: Marco Abbetecola
Email: Marco.Abbetecola@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 07970 426603
North West London
Unit 3, 30 Friern Park, North Finchley N12 9DA
Programme coordinator: Megan Clark
Email: Megan.Clark@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 0208 3461237
South West London
Kingston United Reformed Church, Eden Street, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 1HX and
Sutton - new programme starting in September 2024. Premises to be confirmed.
Programme Coordinator: Lucinda Morgan-Evans
Email: Lucinda.Morgan-Evans@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 07813 363045
West London
Auriol Drive, Greenford Park, Unit 6, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 0TP
Programme Coordinator: Mohammed Mullick
Email: Mohammed.Mullick@mencap.org.uk
Telephone: 07966 134737
Unable to find a supported internship near you?
Work experience can potentially be arranged with employers closer to learners' homes.
We may be able to take learners from other, nearby
local authority
A local authority is also called a
council
A council is also called a local authority. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
areas.
Barnet, Islington, Kingston, Northampton and Waltham Forest supported internships
In Barnet, Islington, Kingston, Northampton and Waltham Forest, there is the option to take a 2-year version of the supported internship where the first year would have a greater focus on classroom learning, with less work experience. Contact your local programme coordinator to find out more.
Who do I contact about a supported internship?
Please contact your nearest programme coordinator to find out more about programmes in your area and to discuss the enrolment process. Teams at each location aim to respond to all queries within 48 hours*. Alternatively, you can start the enrolment process by completing our online referral form.
If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, then please email either:
Joyce Tainton (Programme Manager for Northampton and Midlands)
or Hiba Momen (Programme Manager for London)
If you would like to compliment Mencap on our work, or to send us feedback about our supported internships, we'd love to hear from you. Please complete our compliments and complaints form.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of a supported internship?
You do not need to pay for a supported internship as they are funded by the Department for Education and local authorities.
Supported internships are free to people who meet the eligibility criteria.
What happens to my benefits if I am on a supported internship?
If you are on Universal Credit (UC) and are also claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) then you can also apply for a Work Capability
Assessment
An assessment is a way of finding out what help a person needs. When you have an assessment, you might have to go to a meeting or fill in a form.
(WCA) from your local job centre. Once this is agreed, learners can join a supported internship without their benefits being affected. This process can take time, however, so it is important to start your application to join the programme as early as possible before the start of the academic year in September.
If you are only claiming UC and not PIP, then this will need to cease before you can start a supported internship.
Will I get paid on a supported internship?
Interns are not paid while on the programme.
The aim of a supported internship is to help learners develop skills, behaviours and experiences that will help them to secure paid
employment
Employment means having a job.
. This may be with an employer that you do work experience while on the programme, or we we will help you to apply for other opportunities.
How much work experience will I get on a supported internship?
The Department for Education expects learners on supported internships to complete at least 420 hours of work experience.
If you think you are not yet ready to complete this number of hours, then we also run two-year versions of the programme in Barnet, Islington, Kingston, Northampton and Waltham Forest. During the first year of these longer programmes, you will have more classroom learning with more limited engagement with employers. This will help you prepare for the full Supported Internship the following year.
To find out more about our 2-year Supported Internships, please contact the programme coordinator in your area.
How long is a supported internship?
Supported internships are full time study programmes. You will attend classes and work experience throughout the week over the course of an academic year lasting from September to July.
If you feel you need more time and support before you can enter paid work or before you can complete 420 hours of work experience, then we also run two-year versions of the programme in some areas. During the first year of these longer programmes, you will have more classroom learning with more limited engagement with employers. This will help you prepare for the full supported internship the following year.
To find out more about our two-year supported internships, please contact the supported internship team in your area.
I have a learning disability but not an Education, Health and Care Plan, can I still do a supported internship?
The government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
currently requires all learners on Supported Internships to have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
In some cases, we may be able to support you in applying to your local authority for an EHCP.