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.
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.
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.
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 .
