New funding opens doors to employment for young people with SEND

Cheshire East Council has secured fresh funding from the Department for Education to further boost its successful supported internships programme—an initiative that connects young people aged 16–25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to meaningful employment opportunities.

The council has been awarded £21,000 for this financial year to add further support to enabling more young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to gain valuable work experience alongside tailored on-the-job training.

Since its launch in 2019, the programme has helped young people with learning disabilities, autism spectrum conditions, and those who are neurodivergent to build confidence, develop skills, and transition into paid employment. Each intern is supported by a dedicated job coach throughout their placement, ensuring they are fully equipped to thrive in the workplace.

Local employers including Siemens, Crewe Hall, Waitrose, Belong, Macclesfield Hospital, and Everybody Health and Leisure have already benefited from the scheme—gaining access to a diverse and capable talent pool while making a meaningful impact in their communities.

To further support employers, the council also offers free e-learning resources, to help them feel empowered about recruitment, inclusion, and getting the best from their workforce.

Employers can access these resources here: 

Cheshire East website

The council will also be celebrating the achievements of this year’s cohorts of supported interns at a graduation ceremony this summer. This will unite businesses, interns and job coaches involved in the scheme, and recognise the hard work of supported interns, who will receive a certificate for all their hard work.

Councillor Laura Crane, chair of Cheshire East Council’s children and families committee, said:

“It may be surprising to some that young people with SEND are 80 per cent less likely to be in employment or training. This new funding is a vital step in addressing that inequality.

“Supported internships continue to be instrumental in helping improve employment opportunities for our young people with SEND, helping to improve their confidence and give them additional options in life. We’re proud to continue to be able to run and champion the scheme which sees our interns consistently impress employers, proving that with the right support, they can thrive in the modern workforce.”

Additional information about the supported internships scheme can be found here: 

Cheshire East website.

For more information or to enquire about joining the scheme as an individual or employer, email: 

supportedemployment@cheshireeast.gov.uk.