By Mencap
Since Deniro's supported internship with the Mencap Training Academy, he now has a paid job at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC).
We've caught up with Deniro to find out what a day in his life looks like, and hear from the people who supported him along the way.
Taking the next step after college
Before joining the Mencap Training Academy, Deniro was in his final year of college and starting to think about his future.
In my mind I was thinking, what’s the next stage and where do I go from there?
Deniro hadn’t worked in a workplace or completed an internship before. Starting something completely new felt daunting, but he was ready to give it a go.
He joined the Mencap Training Academy’s supported internship programme and started a work placement at the Midlands Arts Centre, known as the MAC. It didn’t take long for Deniro to settle in.
He loved working at the MAC and threw himself into learning new tasks, getting to know his colleagues and becoming part of the team. And his positive attitude made an impression on the people around him.
One of Deniro’s colleagues says:
Working with Deniro has been honestly a pleasure. Part of that is because he’s happy to be here, and that’s such a big part of making a workplace nice to be in.
MAC Duty
Manager
A manager is a boss at work. They tell you what you need to do and give you support if you need it.
Lisa agrees:
Customers love him!
Building confidence at work
Learning new skills was only one part of Deniro’s supported internship. A big focus was helping him believe in his own abilities.
Deniro had support from Mencap Training Academy skills coaches, including Mandy. She was there when he needed reassurance, particularly when he was given a new task.
At the end of each day, Deniro and Mandy would sit down together and reflect on how things had gone. They would talk about what Deniro had learned, anything he had found difficult and what he had achieved. Over time, Deniro needed less reassurance as his confidence grew.
His colleagues at the MAC noticed the difference too, from the way he approached his work to the friendships he formed with the people around him.
Deniro credits the supported internship with helping him prepare for his future:
“It gives you that opportunity for that next stage in life, to get ready and prepared for.”
Alongside his work placement, Mencap supported Deniro with work skills including maths and English,
CV
A CV is also called a Curriculum Vitae. It is a document with information about: your skills, your qualifications and any jobs or volunteering you have done. You may have to send a CV when you try to get a job.
writing and
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
techniques, helping him prepare for paid
employment
Employment means having a job.
.
From supported internship to a paid job
And all that hard work paid off.
At the end of his supported internship, Deniro was offered a paid job at the MAC.
For Deniro and his family, it was a huge achievement.
Seeing my son so happy, seeing him feel so rewarded from this programme, it’s just been amazing. Absolutely wonderful.
Today, Deniro is a valued member of the MAC team and is continuing to develop his skills, confidence and
independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
.
A day in Deniro’s life
Deniro’s journey might have begun with uncertainty about what came after college, but these days he has somewhere he’s very happy to be heading to.
He enjoys skateboarding into work and arrives ready to get stuck into his day.
And there’s one part of his work outfit that is unmistakably Deniro. His MAC lanyard is home to an ever-growing collection of badges that he proudly wears to work.
Throughout the day, Deniro works alongside his colleagues and helps visitors to the MAC. He knows the importance of asking for help when he needs it and has grown increasingly confident working independently.
Most importantly, Deniro enjoys being part of the team.
Watch: A day in the life of Deniro
We spent the day with Deniro at the MAC to see what his job looks like and hear from Deniro, his family, his Mencap skills coach and the people he works alongside.
Watch the video to find out more about Deniro’s journey from finishing college to finding a job he loves.
Reflecting on how far he has come, Deniro says:
Mencap has really helped me along the way and without them I don’t know where I would be from here. So I have to say thank you to Mencap for bringing me all this way to the MAC.
Helping more young people take their next step
Deniro is one of a number of Mencap Training Academy learners who have been supported into paid employment over the years.
For employers, supported internships A work placement for young people with additional needs, where they get support from a job coach. are also an opportunity to meet talented young people and build a workforce that better reflects the communities they serve.
For Deniro, it provided the opportunity to discover what he was capable of and take that important next step into paid work.
We’re incredibly proud of how far Deniro has come, and we can’t wait to see where his career takes him next.
Could a supported internship be your next step?
Mencap supported internships can help you build your skills, gain experience Experience is when you have learned or tried something before. in the workplace and prepare for employment.
Find out more about Mencap Training Academy supported internships and opportunities near you.
How a supported internship can help you
Our supported internships support people aged 16-24 with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
, to make the
transition
Transition means changing from one thing to another. Transition sometimes means things like when you change from having children's social care to adult social care.
from
education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
into employment, combining
work experience
Work experience is when you try out a job to help you learn new skills.
and classroom learning to help give you the right skills for the workplace.