For more than a decade, West Thames College has proudly partnered with the London Borough of Hounslow and leading employers to deliver the DFN Project Search supported internship programme—creating meaningful pathways into employment for young people with disabilities and/or autism.
The importance of this work cannot be overstated. Nationally, only around 4.8% of young people leaving education with an Education, Health and Care Plan progress into employment—a figure that underscores a significant gap in opportunity. Through DFN Project Search, we are helping to close that gap. Our collaborative approach has led to consistently stronger outcomes, with many of our interns securing long-term, meaningful roles.
Over the years, the London Borough of Hounslow has hosted numerous cohorts, providing invaluable real-world experience and helping interns take confident steps into the workforce. Together, we have built a programme that is not only impactful but genuinely life-changing. Interns are supported by a tutor from West Thames College and a job coach from our supported employment partner, Kaleidoscope, and they complete three supported rotations within the host business gaining valuable skills needed to find and sustain employment.
This week, we were delighted to attend the DFN Project Search Conference in Birmingham, where, as a partnership, we were honoured with an award recognising 10 years of a successful project with the London Borough of Hounslow. This achievement reflects the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for every intern.
Today, our programme continues to grow. Alongside our established site with the London Borough of Hounslow, we are incredibly proud to offer a new location at the Sheraton Skyline London Heathrow Hotel. Together, these sites provide a wide range of job rotations across different sectors, giving interns the opportunity to explore varied career pathways and build valuable workplace skills.
Mitsie Butler, Curriculum Coordinator in Supported Learning, said: “We are immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved over the past decade through the DFN Project Search programme run at the London Borough of Hounslow and remain committed to expanding opportunities for future cohorts.”
If you’re interested in learning more about our supported internships or applying to the programme, please explore the link provided and take the next step toward a brighter future.
