Paid work placements

The Department of International Development has joined forces with a leading charity to offer disabled students and graduates paid summer work placements in 2020.

Leonard Cheshire’s award-winning internship scheme, Change 100, offers disabled and students three months’paid work experience with leading organisations across a range of industries and sectors.

The highly-coveted internships help remove barriers experienced by disabled people in the workplace, allowing them to achieve their full potential and eliminating stigmatisation in employment.

And DFID in East Kilbride was one of the country’s top businesses to get involved in the scheme.

Scott Montgomery, a 2019 Change 100 intern, completed a work experience placement there and is now a graduate at the Open University.

He said:“My employers were friendly, relaxed, comfortable and supportive in a helpful environment to become part of the team.

“People in my work life and at home have said that my confidence and IT skills have improved hugely and I feel confident taking on new challenges.”

Change 100 also supports businesses in offering advice and guidance on how to support disabled people and individuals with long-term health conditions.

Christina Houlgrave, diversity and inclusion manager at Skanska, said:“It is really encouraging to be part of a programme that is trying to improve the employment landscape for disabled people, challenging barriers in society and creating sustainable change.

“Taking part in Change 100 has reinforced our view that a few small changes make someone feel welcome and able to perform at their absolute best.”

Applications are open until January 8, 2020. Visit leonardcheshire.org/ change100