As part of our commitment to supporting employers to provide supportive, inclusive internship placements for young people with learning difficulties and/or autism,  we have developed Autism Awareness Training.  The training is delivered by the Supported Internships team, including current and former students with autism.

We offer this training free of charge to employers and businesses who take part in the Supported Internship programme and are looking at offering a bespoke version for other organisations. So far, we have run the training with our employer partners Sun Pier House (Chatham), The Document Warehouse (Sittingbourne), The Entertainer (Chatham) and Golden Leas Holiday Park (Sheerness).

The training includes the direct, lived experiences of autism from current and former students.  This gives employers and colleagues a good understanding of how someone with autism might experience the workplace, and what can be put in place to ensure that the working environment and culture is supportive. Along with our experts by experience, the training is led by Project Lead, Gemma, who makes sure that the training is helpful and appropriate for individual employers and answers any questions about how they can support our interns on their placement.

We receive excellent feedback from employees on the training and one member of The Entertainer toy store was so keen to do the training that she attended in her own time. [Banner image: Alex, former Intern; Jess, employee at The Entertainer; Gemma, Supported Internships Project Lead]

"It has given a new insight into situations and I think it will help me empathise more" - Jess, team member at The Entertainer

Jo Treadgold, Centre Manager at Golden Leas Holiday Park, is thrilled to have offered intern, Connor, paid employment at the end of his placement. [Picture below: Golden Leas Holiday Park team with Connor and Work Coach, Nipa].  Jo says:

“bemix have been a friendly, professional and a very helpful service that we would thoroughly recommend to anyone considering the scheme. They have spent time getting to know our business before placing us with the very friendly and hard working Connor. They have supported us every step of the way, and there is no question too big or small, or question that cannot be answered”