A cohort of eight younger folks have efficiently graduated from our supported traineeship for younger folks with particular academic wants and disabilities (SEND) and autism. We ran the year-long traineeship in partnership with Seetec Pluss and Discovery-UK.

The traineeship supplied real-life work expertise with us for eight younger folks from 18 to 25 years previous, mixed with coaching in work-related expertise. The goal was for the younger folks to realize expertise and precious work expertise to turn into impartial people and transfer into sustainable employment.

The younger folks skilled several types of police workers roles equivalent to working alongside neighbourhood policing groups, helping within the car workshop, and supporting the mounted part with caring for police horses.

Our Chief Constable Sarah Crew mentioned:

“Having tracked the younger folks’s journeys from the beginning and having checked in alongside the best way, I can say with some confidence it has been life altering and never only for the interns. It has additionally modified us as an organisation for the higher. We’ve discovered lots from the younger folks themselves and have been in a position to have conversations about how we turn into extra inclusive as a office consequently. All eight younger folks have been a unbelievable addition to our service, and we’ve loved supporting them to develop their experiences of labor. I’m proud we’ve been in a position to help three of our trainees to stay with us, to proceed to convey their expertise to our workforce, and want all of the members effectively on their subsequent steps.”

Detective Sergeant James Holdsworth from our Felony Investigations Division has been main the crew in supporting the trainees in his space. He mentioned:

“The traineeship and interns have had a massively constructive affect on the directorate, and us as people. Their perspective, enthusiasm and private growth has been memorable and provoking. We’ve turn into way more inclusive as a division, with workers actively volunteering to work and help future interns. “We additionally secured funding to supply bespoke neurodivergent coaching for our colleagues. As a crew we now know way more about neurodiversity and are adapting how we work together, not solely with our colleagues, but additionally with victims, witnesses, suspects and the group we serve.”

Lorraine Spiller, Vocational Tutor at Seetec Outsource, mentioned:

“Younger folks with Particular Academic Wants can, by no fault of their very own, discover themselves fairly far-off from the labour market. These internships have due to this fact been transformational, offering a steadiness between studying precious life expertise and sensible work expertise. “Every of those learners has gone on a major journey, and their future alternatives have now dramatically improved. We’re completely delighted to see every of them graduate from this programme!”

Aaron, a participant on the traineeship mentioned:

“It’s been actually good. The police groups have all been very useful they usually’ve taught me a number of issues. Totally different expertise which I didn’t have earlier than, and it’s actually put into perspective what sort of issues I can do, and the way useful I may be at instances.”

Among the members additionally shared on movie their experiences:

For extra details about alternatives presently obtainable to hitch Avon and Somerset Police please go to www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/apply/jobs-and-volunteering/