Young people with additional educational needs and disabilities have landed part-time jobs at Royal Albert Dock Liverpool after completing supported internships with businesses there.
The Royal Albert Dock partnered with three schools to offer young people the chance to gain hands-on workplace skills and experience as part of Liverpool City Council’s ‘Intern to Work’ programme.
Now two of the students given internships at the Dock at Holiday Inn Express have been offered part-time jobs in the hotel, and two more students have developed a guided Titanic Tour which will be available for families at the Maritime Museum.
The supported internships at the Royal Albert Dock were introduced by Dave Roscoe, founder of the Albert Dock Charitable Foundation. Sandfield Park School in West Derby was the first school to work with the Dock, then Bank View School in Fazakerley and Greenbank College near Sefton Park.
Ten interns were given a guided tour of the Dock, before taking up placements at Holiday Inn Express and the Maritime Museum.
After the tour, students were asked to name their favourite part of the day. One singled out how much he enjoyed learning and developing the work in housekeeping and was very proud of his achievements, and he has now gone on to work at the Marriott Hotel in Liverpool city centre as a kitchen porter.
Gareth Davey, assistant head of Bank View School, said the supported internships had been a really positive experience for students. “The impact that The Holiday Inn Express in particular has had on the lives and the future opportunities of the interns involved in the programme has been huge.
“They have had the chance to prove to themselves and to others that they can play a meaningful and successful role in the world and society. They have developed many invaluable skills that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives, as well as building confidence and personal independence.”
