Our Supported Internship Programme empowers young adults to take the next step in their workplace journey. It is a collaborative partnership between Forging Futures, a young adult, their family, their specialist school and one of our host employer partners. Our supported internship programme provides meaningful opportunities for young adults with learning disabilities and/or who are neurodivergent to develop new skills, build confidence, and thrive in real workplace settings - preparing them to take up paid employment at the end of the academic year. Built on strong partnerships, the programme values employers as equal partners in forging meaningful careers and creating inclusive workplaces. We work closely with each trainee and employer - listening, learning, and adapting to create bespoke learning plans that reflect individual strengths, ambitions, and needs. Together, we make any necessary adjustments to the workplace so both the trainee and the employer can thrive. Trainees spend 15 hours a week in real workplace settings with our fantastic employer partners, supported by a dedicated member of the Forging Futures team. For the remaining two days, they return to their specialist schools to build on their learning and strengthen their skills. Following the 6 months to year-long internship, Forging Futures is committed to supporting graduates and their new employers as they transition into paid employment. Our ambition is that: • 100% of our graduates secure and sustain paid employment. • 100% of our graduates feel ambitious about their futures. • 100% of our employer partners share our commitment to developing inclusive workplaces, valuing individual differences, and removing barriers to employment. • 100% of our host employers develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make adjustments where needed so that everyone can thrive at work. Our graduates know they will always be part of the Forging Futures family. We’ll be there to guide and support, have a chat over coffee, make introductions to industry professionals, and celebrate their next adventures and future successes.

We offer supported work experience placements at our fabulous partner coffee shops for trainees who have previously participated in our Cookie Projects. Our previous supported work experience placements have ranged from 2 weeks to 11 months. We work closely with each individual, listening to them and learning from their experiences to create a bespoke learning plan. We then collaborate with the coffee shop team to make any necessary adjustments or adaptations in the environment or day-to-day operations. Our approach creates a truly inclusive first workplace experience that empowers our trainees to feel successful and be ambitious about their futures.