9 young people recently began an exciting journey with Rochdale Borough Council as part of the local authority’s supported internship programme.
This new programme offers an insightful opportunity for some of the borough’s young people with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) to learn about the world of work.
Delivered in partnership with Hopwood Hall College, the programme also helps to equip interns with the skills, confidence, and experience they need to secure long-term paid employment.
With a mixture of classroom-based learning and hands-on work placements, those involved will get the opportunity to work with a number of different services across the council over the next 9 months.
This will not only provide them with real exposure to how local councils operate, but give them a vast overview of the different roles and responsibilities involved.
Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children’s services and education at Rochdale Borough Council, said:
“We are incredibly proud to welcome these talented young people to Rochdale Borough Council.
“This programme isn’t just about gaining work experience — it’s about unlocking potential, building confidence, and showing our interns where they belong.
“With the support of our dedicated teams and the expertise of Hopwood Hall College, we’re excited to see them grow, thrive, and take their next steps towards meaningful employment.
“We’d also like to give a big thanks to Redwood School, as we learned so much from the fantastic work they are doing to support their students with valuable work placements.”
Glen Fawcett, curriculum manager for skills for life at Hopwood Hall College, added:
“We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with the council on this programme which helps our young people get a real taste of employment.
“The programme is designed to empower young people and help them to develop the skills, confidence and real-world experience they need to thrive in the workplace, and they will get a huge amount from the vast number of services that the council offers.
“Seeing our learners step into professional environments and grow day by day is incredibly rewarding and we’re confident they will all have a fantastic time over the coming months.”
On their first day, interns received a warm welcome from James Binks, chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council, as they were given the opportunity to ask insightful and meaningful questions on leadership and public service.
The interns also met with a number of different key staff members, with this just being the start of their internship journey.