Our central London pre-internship
Learners on our pre-internship in central London attend careers learning sessions to develop their skills and confidence 3 days a week between September and July. The course involves some
work experience
Work
experience
Experience is when you have learned or tried something before.
is when you try out a job to help you learn new skills.
and other forms of employer engagement.
What do learners do in pre-internship classroom sessions?
Topics covered include:
- Exploring the world of work
- Exploring what good CVs and cover letters look like
- Understanding how to job search
- Identifying positive
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.
skills and describing my skills to others - Expected workplace behaviours and health and safety at work
- How to work in a team
- Prioritising and time management.
Engaging with employers on our central London pre-internship
As part of the pre-internship programme, learners also engage with employers. This could be in the form of guest speaker visits, or trips to employers' premises.
During terms 2 and 3, pre-internship learners must also complete a minimum of 45 hours of work experience. Learners are supported in their placement by a skills coach and could do work experience with a range of employers including:
Greene King. The UK's biggest pub chain. Hospitality work experience placements available in front of house and back of house roles - waiting on tables, serving at the bar and working in kitchens.
Sanctuary Care. A leading care provider. Work experience placements available at homes in Enfield, Greenwich, Kensington, Redbridge and Westminster.
Delfont Mackintosh. Theatre operator in London's west end. Front of house placements available - selling tickets and merchandise and showing audience members to their seats.
Bella Italia. Italian restaurant chain. Placements available in central London restaurants working front of house and in the kitchens.
You can find out more about employers we work with in London on our central London supported internship page.
Where is it?
Learners on our central London pre-internship attend sessions at The Richmond Fellowship building on Holloway Road 3 days a week between September and July. There may also be trips to other sites and work experience could take place at a range of locations.
The aim of the pre-internship is to prepare learners to progress onto our supported internship or employer-led supported internship in central London the following year.
How do young people enrol on this programme?
To express an interest in joining our pre-internship in central London and to start the enrolment process, please complete our online expression of interest form.
If you or the person you are enquiring on behalf of are eligible for the programme, then a member of the team will work to get in touch with you within 14 working days.
Before we can agree to enrol learners, we will need to see a copy of the young person's EHCP and to meet with them to discuss why they want to do a pre-internship, as well as their skills, needs and interests.
Our London prospectus
You can find out more about all our programmes in London in our 2025/26 prospectus.
Our classroom where we deliver the classroom learning elements of our pre-internship in central London is at the Richmond Fellowship building at 80 Holloway Road in Islington. It is a 0.3 mile (7 minute) walk from Highbury and Islington tube station and a 0.6 mile (14 minute walk) from Caledonian Road tube station. It is also close to bus stops on the 21 and 263 (St Mary Magdalene Church bus stop) and the 43 route (Highbury and Islington Station bus stop).
Learners on the pre-internship attend sessions at our classroom 3 days a week.
We understand that some people may not have much experience of travelling on their own and may feel nervous about finding their way to our classrooms.
We encourage people to come and visit our premises before enrolling to see what it’s like and to get a sense of the journey from home.
You may also be able to get some independent travel training support before joining the pre-internship from your local
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
For Islington residents, visit https://directory.islington.gov.uk/kb5/islington/directory/advice.page?id=yX6gE8DcQUk
For Harringey residents, visit https://haringey.gov.uk/children-young-people-families/send-local-offer/education/school-travel-assistance/eligibility-application-process
For Camden residents, visit https://cindex.camden.gov.uk/kb5/camden/cd/advice.page?id=Hv_du0BCs-8
For Hackney residents, visit https://www.hackneylocaloffer.co.uk/kb5/hackney/localoffer/service.page?id=oJs8As1_ZGo
For Tower Hamlets residents, visit https://www.localoffertowerhamlets.co.uk/organisations/28016-independent-travel-training-itt-for-students-with-special-educational-needs-and-disabilities-send
For Lambeth residents, visit https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/send/send-support/young-adults-14-25-years/independent-travel-training
For Southwark residents, visit https://www.southwark.gov.uk/parking-streets-and-transport/travel/independent-travel-training
If you would like to enquire about enrolling on our pre-internship in central London, then the best way to start the process is by completing our online expression of interest form.
However, if you would like to get in touch with a member of the team directly, then please contact the programme coordinator in central London, Tito Gbadamosi.
tito.gbadamosi497@mencap.org.uk
07813 723 165
For general enquiries, you can also contact: employment.support@mencap.org.uk