Apprenticeships, traineeships, internships, volunteering

An apprenticeship is a paid job with training, where young people will:

• earn a wage
• gain a nationally recognised qualification.

The time an apprenticeship can take varies from one to five years, depending on the type of apprenticeship.

Young people can check this option instead of going straight to university from school or college.

Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16 living in England. There will be different requirements depending on the type of apprenticeship.

Information on how apprenticeships work can also be found on the National Apprenticeship Service website. You can also search for apprenticeship vacancies.

• Find apprenticeship opportunities on Apprenticeship website.

Traineeships are for young people who:

• are aged 16 to 24 years and qualified up to and including Level 3 (equivalent to A Level)
• would like to have an apprenticeship or job, but do not yet have the necessary skills.

Traineeships involves essential training, helping to gain maths and English skills and work experience. 

• Find a traineeship on GOV.UK.

Supported internships:

• are study programmes based at an employer’s
• enable young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care plan to get paid employment by equipping them with skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace
• are unpaid, and last for a minimum of six months
• wherever possible, support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme.

Alongside their time at the employer, young people complete a study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, if appropriate, and English and Maths.

• Check Supported internships - Easy Read guidance on base website.

You can get help and advice from:

• Preparing for Adulthood - NDTI for guidance on supported internships and study programmes for young people with a disability or learning difficulty
• Talking Futures for support for parents and guardians looking to explore education and career options with their child.

Find details on:

• DFN Project Search
• GOV.UK.
• Delta Hotels Marriott supported internship.

Check video of West London College Supported Interns at the Heathrow Windsor Marriott Hotel. Please note: if you watch the video on YouTube the subtitles are auto generated. Some videos may not have subtitles and may autoplay.

Volunteering is when young people choose to give their time to help others, either in the local community or elsewhere. It can be:

• formal or informal
• individual or in groups
• indoors or outdoors.

Volunteers don’t get paid but get:

• the satisfaction of helping others
• a chance to make new friends
• an opportunity to develop new skills.

Volunteers can help in administration, IT, care for children/elderly people, accountancy, gardening and sports.

• Mencap has lots of exciting volunteering opportunities and information for volunteering if the young person has a learning disability. 
• You can also find volunteering opportunities on Slough CVS website.

Ability Slough provides support for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions to gain and maintain paid employment.

If a young person:

• has a disability or long-term health condition and
• is struggling to gain or maintain employment

Ability Slough can help!

They work with:

• the young person to understand what they like to do and match their skills, experience and aspirations to job roles in the local area
• lots of employers and are always making new relationships, which helps to get young people into work as soon as possible.

Once the young person gets a job, they will provide support to help them keep it at their place of work.

You, or someone on behalf of the young person, can make a referral on Ways Into Work - Ability Slough.