Twenty-one new internships open for blind and partially sighted jobseekers to Get Set Progress
21 new paid internship roles have just opened for blind and partially sighted jobseekers to Get Set Progress.
RNIB is collaborating with Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) to create the new opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to find employment through TPT’s flagship internship scheme.
TPT has run a programme of paid internships since 2015. The last tranche, launched in March, appointed interns within TPT and across five other sight loss charities. This latest tranche will see internship opportunities from Scotland to Sussex, Cambridge to Kingston and Chester to Leicester.
The new internships, open for applications from blind and partially sighted candidates* from today until 5pm Monday 31 October. Links to all roles are on the Get Set Progress internships page on TPT’s website and include:
- Client Engagement Officer - 4sight Vision support
- Sight Loss Advisor - Beacon Centre for the Blind
- Communications and Administrative Assistant - Blatchington Court Trust
- Employment Coordinator - Blind in Business
- Research Assistant - Bravo Victor
- World Games Assistant Officer - British Blind Sports
- Client Services Intern - Cam Sight
- Tech Support Assistant - East Sussex Vision Support
- Marketing and Fundraising Intern - Focus Birmingham
- Administration Intern - Kingston Association for the Blind
- Project Assistant - Look UK
- Finance Officer - Merton Vision
- Sports and Social Activities Intern - Metro
- Communications Intern - RetinaUK
- Centre Officer - Sight Scotland Veterans
- Admin Assistant - Sight Support Worthing
- Employment Team Intern – Thomas Pocklington Trust
- Financial Welfare and Wellbeing Advisor - Vision Support
- Residential Clerical Assistant - Vista
- Marketing and Communications Assistant - Vista
- Grants and Administrative Assistant - Vision Foundation
Emma Hughes, TPT’s Director of Services, said: “One of our core aims is to create opportunities for blind and partially sighted people seeking employment. This latest tranche will bring this year’s total number of Get Set Progress internships to thirty-two.
“Our internships scheme helps blind and partially sighted people to get that first rung on the career ladder. And we know it works. 85% of interns have gone on to secure employment within six months.”
The scheme contributes 75% of the funding for the posts and TPT supports the interns and partner organisations throughout the nine-month placements.
Martin O’ Kane, Head of Employment at RNIB, said: “This is such a great opportunity to enable more blind and partially sighted people to get into work and we are delighted to work alongside TPT on this fantastic programme.
Internships are a great way of enabling people to try out different roles and also to educate employers around how to support staff with sight loss. We are urging people to apply for these roles.
Margaret Hart, current Fundraising Intern at MyVision Oxfordshire, said: “It’s given me job experience - that was something I was struggling with because I hadn’t had a job before. It has given me a boost of confidence. It’s given me ambition!”
*These posts have a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the successful applicants be a blind or partially sighted person in line with The Equality Act 2010.
For further information or images please contact: Penny Wilkinson, Thomas Pocklington Trust, [email protected] 07974 578 637.
Image: Get Set Progress logo
Editors’ Notes
About Thomas Pocklington Trust
Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity dedicated to enabling and empowering blind and partially sighted people of all ages to live the life they want to lead. We are committed to increasing awareness and understanding of their needs and aspirations, to working with partners and to developing and implementing services which meet these needs to increase independence and improve lives.
About RNIB
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), is one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people.
