March, 2026 | Include.org
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Month: March 2026

Adam’s journey at Include: from tentative steps to building confidence

We chatted with Adam, about what inclusion and being part of the Include community means to him. 
When Adam joined, he felt a bit anxious, taking those first, tentative steps into something new.


Since joining, Adam has taken on new responsibilities at choir rehearsals, like directing and filming the sign of the week videos and it’s been wonderful to see his confidence grow week after week.

Adam tell us what inclusion means to him

An image of Include member Adam, wearing a yellow hooded jacket over a navy hoodie. He is smiling and chatting with Alix, founder of Include.

Question: “What does inclusion mean to you?”

Answer: “Inclusion to me means knowing that I feel welcome at Include and feel happy to be a part of it”

Empowering Adam during Choir sessions

A close-up image of Include member Adam smiling and leaning forward while talking to Louise our volunteer coordinator. Adam is wearing a red and black plaid shirt and a bright rainbow coloured flower lei around his neck.

Question: “What do you do at Include?”

Answer: “Each week at the break I video people who are taking part in doing the sign of the week and I direct them. I also, after the break, help with the slides on the computer.”

Overcoming anxiety and building confidence

Question: “What was it like when you first started coming to Include and has it changed since then?”

Answer: “I felt a bit anxious joining Include because I hadn’t been to something like this before. It has changed in that I’m doing more tasks than I used to do. I also feel more confident.”

Learning new skills

An outdoor shot of Include member Adam wearing a bright red zip-up hoodie over an orange shirt and is grinning broadly, at an Include Choir event.

Question:“What do you like about Include and what have you learned?”

Answer: “I like having a sense of achievement afterwards. I have learnt how to do some signs, I have also learned about how to do the video for the sign of the week.”

Adam’s words remind us how important it is to build those communication bridges, to give everyone a voice and a place to belong 💙

Emma
Emma
Comms Manager

What does a summer internship at Include look like? Let’s go behind the scenes to find out

Most people know about the people with Include who are up on stage and in public. We want to shine a light on the wonderful people who make a huge difference to Include from behind the scenes, remote working, or with us for a short-term project.

Eglantine is in her third year studying English literature at the University of Brighton and hopes to work in the publishing industry when she graduates. She admires the work Include does and spent her summer break here as an intern.

Exciting prospect

“I first heard of the summer internship through my university and the careers team helped me with my CV and interview skills. There were many things that made the prospect of interning with Include very exciting, but the primary attraction was the opportunity to make a difference.

Members of the Include Choir performing outside at a Summer Big Sing event. They are singing and doing Makaton signing - with a few dance moves too!

I have multiple family members with autism, including my younger sister Maddison. I know the importance of community support and I was excited to help Include in their goal to deliver this to those who need it. It was also a great opportunity to gain work experience and develop skills like researching and working as a part of a team.

Gathering feedback

Many of my tasks were research-based, such as collecting and comprehensively writing up data that could help Include in developing its *case for support (see below). I also had the opportunity to talk to and get opinions from members, carers and volunteers, which I really enjoyed.

Click arrow for an description of ‘case for support’

Case for support refers to a well evidenced written document detailing the problems in society that Include helps with, related data, research and facts, solutions the charity offers, the impact of the projects that Include runs, and an explanation of what’s needed to sustain and grow the work and impact.

Members of The Include Choir in Epsom rehearse. They have an object of reference to represent friendship - it is a string of paper dolls.

One of the highlights was having a chance to speak to so many different people and realising the level of consideration and collaboration that goes into supporting people with communication needs, and the real difference Include makes in people’s lives. Each person stressed what a significant difference the choir sessions made for those attending.

Rewarding experience

My internship with Include was an incredibly rewarding experience. Everyone I worked with was kind, welcoming and generous with their time. The team created such a supportive environment that I always felt comfortable asking questions or seeking feedback. It was clear just how passionate everyone is about Include’s goals and the positive impact it has on the community.

Alix Include's founder is pictured at and Include Choir rehearsal. A volunteer and a choir member are also in the photo. They are all looking in different directions and one person has a large glove on that looks like a thumbs up sign,

Looking back, my time at Include was both a professional and personal learning journey. I developed valuable skills in communication, researching and teamwork, as well as a stronger sense of understanding for those with communication needs and the people who love them.

I am incredibly grateful for the experience and would recommend Include as a charity to anyone in a heartbeat.“

If you are interested in discussing Internship opportunities with Include, please email info@include.org or to apply for a volunteering role you can use this form .

diane