Celebrating Supported Interns

Supported Interns alongside Jodie Gosling MP and DFN CEO Kirsty Matthews outside 10 Downing Street.

This week has been one of the most uplifting and inspiring moments of my year. I had the privilege of welcoming supported interns from Nuneaton — along with more than 150 young people from across the country — to Westminster for the second annual Youth SEND Parliament. Before the event, our Nuneaton interns enjoyed a very special visit to 10 Downing Street to celebrate the success of the supported internship scheme. Seeing their pride as they stood outside one of the most recognisable buildings in the country was a moment I won’t forget.

Supported internships are transforming lives. They offer structured workplace learning for young people aged 16–24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), giving them the chance to spend most of their week in a real job role. With the support of trained job coaches, interns build confidence, develop practical skills, and take their first steps toward long‑term paid employment. For many, it’s a pathway to independence that once felt out of reach.

I’m pleased that the Government has confirmed the extension of a pilot scheme to open supported internship opportunities to young people with SEND who do not have an EHCP. This follows the record £12 million investment announced in 2025 to continue expanding the programme, after my Parliamentary campaign to boost funding. It’s a recognition of just how powerful these internships can be.

Here in Nuneaton, we have so much to be proud of. Supported internships are thriving at ASDA, MIRA Technology Institute, George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton Signs and other local employers — all delivered in partnership with North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College. Across all NWSLC sites, an incredible 62 per cent of interns have moved into paid employment. When you compare that to the national picture — where only five per cent of people with a learning disability are in work, despite 86 per cent wanting a job — it shows just how life‑changing these opportunities are.

Hosting the Youth SEND Parliament was a reminder of why this work matters. The room was filled with energy, honesty and ambition as young people debated the barriers they face in finding employment and shared what they want for their working futures. We were honoured to be joined by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who opened the event with a powerful message about representation. The interns also heard from Angela Rayner, Dame Diana Johnson and Tanni Grey‑Thompson, each offering encouragement and recognition of their achievements.

One of my favourite moments of the day was bringing the Nuneaton interns to Downing Street for photographs. It was a chance to celebrate everything they’ve achieved — and to show them that their voices belong at the heart of national decision‑making.

As I said during the event, representation and inclusion in politics truly matter. Bringing over 150 young people with disabilities into Parliament to make their voices heard is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Supported internships are one of the most effective tools we have for opening up real opportunities for young people with SEND, and I’ve seen the impact firsthand in Nuneaton. When I visited ASDA again this year, I was delighted to find that some of last year’s interns are now paid employees at the store.

Their success is a testament to their hard work — and to the employers, educators and families who believe in them.

I’m excited to see how the programme continues to grow, both locally and nationally. Most of all, I’m excited to see what these remarkable young people do next.