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Project Choice General Information
Project Choice is a specialist College providing tailored educational support, and a supported internship course for young adults aged 16-24 with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, and/or Autism.
- Began as a small work experience programme in one NHS Trust in 2005.
- Supported Internships started in 2012 in conjunction with Gateshead College.
- Health Education England began hosting Project Choice in 2017.
In 2020-2021 only 5.1% of people with a learning disability were in paid employment (16 or more hours per week).
To date, Project Choice has now:
- Graduated a total of 672 students
- Provided over 540 Education hours per student per year
- Trained 1064 mentors trained in collaborating with people with a disability and/ or Autism
In collaborations with:
- 40 Local authorities
- 17 NHS Trusts
- 55 private or third sector businesses
For each Project Choice intern that successfully secures paid work of more than 16 hours per week, research suggests that the saving to the public purse is at least £1million over their lifetime.
- 83% of Interns transitioned into employment, apprenticeships, volunteering or further education
- 22% or 151 Interns went into paid employment
- 12% or 82 Interns went onto an apprenticeship
- 20% or 137 interns went onto volunteering opportunities
- 29% or 192 Interns went onto Further education
During the Covid 19 (2020-2021) available apprenticeships dropped by 75% and still have not returned to the same level or available apprenticeships.
Top 7 roles for employment
- Customer service and sales
- Food Service and preparation
- Office administration and reception
- Patient Care and transport
- Distribution centres
- Domestic Assistant
- Manufacturing and maintenance
