Why Our Supported Internship Could Be the Right Next Step
Written by Charlotte Lewis, Marketing Assistant at Fair Shot
Every September, we welcome 15 young adults (aged 16–25) with a learning disability and/or autism into our Supported Internship programme, a full-time, real-world introduction to paid work. With just three spaces left for our September 2025–June 2026 cohort, now’s the time to apply, or to share this opportunity with someone you support.
What’s the Supported Internship?
It’s more than just work experience. Our Supported Internship is a full-time, employer-based study programme designed to help young adults build the skills and confidence needed for paid employment. Each year, we train 12-15 young adults (aged 16-25) in our café, where they develop employability, confidence, and independence. Our structured programme includes hands-on experience across different café stations (till, food, floor, coffee, milk) for 20 hours a week, complemented by classroom learning at Mencap. You’ll spend four days a week working five-hour shifts in our busy Covent Garden café, learning barista and customer service skills alongside a dedicated Mencap Skills Coach. One day a week, you’ll attend classroom sessions in Barnet, focusing on workplace behaviours, communication, travel training, and self-confidence.
Your weekly routine is structured but flexible. You’ll work three/four shifts per week (each lasting five hours), giving you time to build well rounded hospitality skills, routine, and independence while learning at a steady pace. These shifts reflect real-life café operations and give you hands-on experience interacting with customers, working as part of a team, and mastering barista skills. The fifth day is spent in the classroom, where we focus on the learning and life skills that support success in the workplace.
For many of our learners, the impact goes far beyond employment:
“Being at work has changed the way I see myself,” says Aya, a 2023 graduate of the Fair Shot training programme.
We take the time to prepare you before the programme even begins. Your coach will help you practice travelling to the café, show you around the workspace, and make sure you feel settled before your first shift.
From Training to Employment
By the time you graduate in June 2026, you’ll be more than work-ready, you’ll be job-ready. You’ll automatically move into our Employment Programme, where we match you with one of our like-minded employment partners. We help shape a role around your strengths and continue supporting both you and your new employer as you transition into paid work.
This year alone, 70% of our graduates moved directly into employment. Some are now thriving in major organisations, from roles in the House of Lords to placements at Savills.
Our impact is made possible through the strength of our partnerships. As Simon Wedlock, Senior Recruitment Manager at The Wolseley Hospitality Group, tells us:
“We are immensely proud of our partnership with Fair Shot. Being able to provide a tangible opportunity for their graduates who face so many barriers to employment is incredibly rewarding. It opens up further conversations that enrich our teams and makes a small difference to ensuring more young adults with disabilities can find meaningful employment.”
Who is it for?
You don’t need qualifications to apply. You’ll need:
An EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan)
To be aged 16–24
A willingness to work and learn
The ability to travel to Covent Garden and Barnet
Whether you’re a young person exploring your next step, or a parent, guardian, support worker, or teacher looking for real options, this programme could make all the difference.
A Pathway That Works
Our approach is safe, supportive and structured, with individual coaching and hands-on learning. We reduce overwhelm and help every intern grow at their own pace. The result? Long-term confidence, practical skills, and meaningful employment.
With just three places left for September 2025, we’re encouraging referrals and applications now. This isn’t just an internship. It’s a gateway to a future where young people with learning disabilities are seen, valued and employed.
Let’s make that future possible, together.
