Supported Internship Programme
Every year, we offer 15 young adults (aged 16-24) with a learning disability and/or autism the chance to gain real-life work experience through our Supported Internship programme.
We provide best-in-class training so that when our graduates begin their working career, they are confident and highly skilled baristas and expert cafe assistants!
Following the programme, we work with our employment partners to help our graduates settle into their next dream job!
About the Programme
Our Supported Internship Programme is a full-time study programme designed for young adults with learning disabilities who are ready to transition from education into the workplace.
Ideal for those looking to start paid employment, this programme helps individuals who may lack the skills, experience, or workplace behaviours that employers seek. We provide a supportive and inclusive environment, allowing learners to grow at their own pace and build confidence.
With the guidance of a dedicated skills coach, learners gain hands-on experience from day one - observing, practicing, and mastering skills to prepare for a successful career in a variety of industries.
880 Hours of Training & Support
Our Supported Internship Programme is a holistic course designed around our learner’s individual needs & focuses on getting them ready for the world of work - from building practical hospitality skills to focusing on building confidence and autonomy.
To join our supported internship you need to:
be aged 16 to 24
have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
want to find a job.
Ideally be travel trained or have the means/support to travel both to Covent Garden cafe 3/4 times a week and Barnet Mencap centre for the classroom day
There are no qualification requirements.
Who can do our Supported Internship?
How it Works
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The first step is to express your interest in our programme. We’ll get in touch when our applications open and we’ll invite you to our virtual open evening in January/February.
If you are interested in applying after the open day, you’ll be asked to fill out an application form and if your application is successful, you will get invited to a casual interview day.
There, we will ask you some questions and get you to carry out some practical tasks to see if you are a good fit. If you pass this stage, we welcome you to the programme!
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Before the programme starts, your skills coaches from Mencap will start preparing you for the start of the programme. This is just to make sure you feel comfortable and familiar with the cafe environment and travelling to Fair Shot before you begin in September.
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Our programme is one academic year long & starts in September. Throughout the programme, you will work 4 days a week for 5-hours at a time. During this time, you will learn to become a barista and expert cafe assistant. Once a week, you will be in a Mencap classroom to carry out the educational side of the course.
Don’t worry we’re here to support you every step of the way. In addition to the training you’ll receive from our amazing team, you’ll also be supported by job coaches from our partner charity Mencap.
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When you come close to finishing the Supported Internship Programme, you’ll continue on to our Employment Programme. In this programme, our team will help find you a job in mainstream employment with one of our employment partners.
These partners are like-minded organisations - often in the hospitality industry - who are keen to carve out a job that suits you. Once you graduate from our programme, we’ll be there to help you to transition into your new role.
We are committed to supporting you and your new employer after you begin work. The reason we started this programme is to see you thrive in mainstream employment and beyond. We want to celebrate you as you continue building on your skills and achievements!
Working in Partnership with Mencap
We're proud to work in partnership with Mencap, a distinguished UK charity dedicated to individuals with learning disabilities.
Mencap serves as our learning provider, offering skilled job coaching and immersive classroom-based instruction. Together, we ensure that each of our learners receives the tailored support needed to thrive and succeed on their unique journey.
FAQs
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During the programme, you will learn a wide range of skills including:
Customer service
Barista skills
Food preparation, food hygiene & allergen awareness
Workplace health & safety
Interview practice & CV writing skills
Self management, teamwork & confidence
Mental well-being skills
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Pretty much! You must be able to commit to training 4 days a week for 5-hours at a time. These come in the form of 2 morning shifts a week (8 am - 1 pm) and 2 afternoon shifts (1 pm - 6 pm). These are scattered throughout the week Monday through to Friday (all learners have weekends off). In addition to this, you will need to attend college for one day a week for a full school day.
This being said there’s still plenty of time to continue with your usual hobbies and we try to be as flexible as possible when it comes to other serious commitments.
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You don’t need to be an avid coffee drinker to apply to our Programme. While we strongly believe the skills you learn in this programme are transferable, the large majority of our learners continue to work within the hospitality industry after they graduate.
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While we can’t promise we can secure your dream job, we will do everything we can to ensure you end up in a positive, supportive and suited environment. Throughout the programme, we’ll have casual conversations about what you’d like to do next and we’ll adapt our search to suit your interests and needs.
This, however, also requires your best effort too! To make the most out of your time with us at Fair Shot, we expect you to put in the work and try your best to flourish into the confident work-ready adult we know you can be!
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Yes, absolutely! We are committed to supporting you and your new employer after you begin work. This can take a variety of forms depending on your needs and abilities, but we will be around to ensure you thrive in mainstream employment and beyond!
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Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme rather than a job. This means all learners on the course are in full-time education and their supported internship work placements are part of their course.
There is no legal requirement or expectation that the supported intern will be paid. Supported internships are exempt from the National Minimum Wage regulation.
For more information on Supported Internships, see the Gov.uk website.
Stick around a while & learn more about…
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Our Employment Programme
We created a bespoke programme - an initiative designed to make the hiring process as easy as possible for someone with a learning disability.
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Venue Hire
A venue like no other; our Covent Garden Cafe boasts exclusive venue hire with flexible options tailored to your needs.