Hello Dorchester – and welcome to our new Supported Internships hub!
We’re excited to finally be up and running with a new hub for our Supported Internship interns in central Dorchester. If you’re local, you may have already walked past and spotted the EMA logo on the windows.
This new base allows our interns to learn in the heart of the community, and encourages greater independence through easy access to the town. It also provides a new way to support learning and showcase the brilliant work our young people do on their journeys into adulthood, and getting ready for work.
“It was important to us to make sure everyone on a Supported Internship is having their needs met, and they can learn in the best way possible. Everyone is especially excited about being able to go into town and learn through real community experiences.
Units such as travel training, budgeting, and communication skills link perfectly with being out and about, helping them navigate real-life situations in meaningful ways. Whether that’s getting to their placements, or just popping out for lunch and browsing the shops, it enhances the experience for young people on our supported internships, like those currently on placements at Dorchester County Hospital, which is very close by.” – Shannon Ford, EMA Careers Lead
Intern Ryan has been on placement at Dorchester County Hospital and is already feeling the benefits of being based in Dorchester.
“Being here is good because there are lots of places nearby in town. We don’t have to stay here on break – we can go to places like Greggs and even the Cat Café. My placement at Dorchester Hospital is going well, and this week I was taking food and drinks to patients at their beds, which is a job I can be proud of. It lets people like me see there is a chance for them to have a job like this. We’ve also been doing job interview practice and learning how to answer questions. It’s good.” – Ryan, Intern
While the new space is already fully functional, with learning underway, development continues as we work to make it as comfortable and versatile as possible to meet the needs of those who use it. Moving to a new space is a big step, but every effort has been made to ensure our interns feel supported and safe – and they have all impressed us with how quickly they’ve adapted.
“I will miss seeing people back at the Moreton campus. Moving around isn’t always fun, but I feel like we’ve all got a good bond which helps, and Ryan has been a great friend. I’m glad we’re all here together.” – Yasmine, Intern
“Like Yasmine says, we will all miss seeing everyone at the main campus regularly, but there are so many benefits to being here. We now have more space that’s completely dedicated to us. We’ll be adding artwork to the walls, maybe a bean bag or two for chill-out times, along with more resources to enhance learning. This is just the beginning!” – Shannon Ford, EMA Careers Lead
EMA continues to celebrate the achievements of our young people, and this new presence in Dorchester is part of giving them opportunities to learn and succeed in ways they can feel proud of, supported by staff as they become more independent.
“The obvious benefit is access to everything the town has to offer, but it’s also important that young people – and their efforts – are visible within the community we’re all part of. It’s going to be great moving forward.” – Mark, Job Coach
We look forward to sharing more from the new Dorchester space and updates on how our interns are getting on next half-term.
If you’d like to find out more about our Supported Internships, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
We’re also hosting two drop-in information sessions at partner venues for our placements with Greene King, at The Coach & Horses in Wimborne, and at The Red Lion in Poole.
