Chelsea & Ways into Work

Ways into Work supports people with a barrier to employment, typically a disability and/or mental health condition, into the workplace. Their mission is to change lives, one job at a time. Berkeley Foundation provided funding for Ways into Work to support eight young people, one of whom is Chelsea.

Chelsea took part in a nine-month Ways into Work Supported Internship in an NHS hospital, where she developed a range of transferable skills working in patient-facing roles. Her aspiration was to secure a long term position that would let her help and support others.

Ways into Work set up work experience for Chelsea at Addington School, a school for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Chelsea completed her work experience in a Learning Support role, and is now working full time at the school.

David Maycock, Deputy Headteacher, says: “Supporting young people into paid employment is something that we at Addington are passionate about. It has been great to take on Chelsea as a Full Time Learning Support Assistant; our first employee to have come through this Supported Internship programme.

“The journey involved several months of collaboration between Addington, Ways into Work and Chelsea. It wasn’t always easy but the Ways into Work team used their knowledge to advise both line managers and Chelsea of the best strategies to ensure any barriers during her initial volunteering sessions were resolved. This enabled us to see Chelsea’s true potential. The Ways into Work team also supported Chelsea so that she was ready for the application and interview process.

“We wish Chelsea every success with her career at Addington.”