DFN Project Search Preston

On Friday, after our week in the classroom, interns at Lancashire Constabulary had a ride out to the Harris Museum, where they were able to explore all about the history of Preston. Interns were also able to stop by the famous Spud Bros tram for lunch as well as speaking to Spear Preston, who were able to give the Interns some tips on how to get the best possible experience out of an interview.

National Supported Internship Day – 27th March 🧡

Today we are proud to celebrate National Supported Internship Day and the incredible impact supported internships have on young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Across our programmes with Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Constabulary, we see first-hand what happens when young people are given real opportunities, the right support and high expectations.

Our interns continue to grow in confidence, develop valuable workplace skills and take meaningful steps towards employment.

Supported internships are a proven pathway into paid work, helping to break down barriers and create more inclusive workplaces.

We would like to thank all of our departments, teams and employer partners who support our interns every day. Your commitment makes these opportunities possible.

Let’s continue working together to create a future where inclusive employment is the norm, not the exception.



Preston College DFN Project Search HQ Lancashire County Council Lancashire Police Lancashire Local Offer

Eid Mubarak 🌙✨

Wishing all our interns, families and staff celebrating a joyful and peaceful Eid!

It’s great to see Archie featured here as part of his supported internship placement at The Harris.

Archie started with the team in January and has already shown fantastic commitment and a real willingness to learn. We’re really proud to see him gaining experience with the Visitor Services team and building his confidence in the workplace.

Inclusive opportunities like this are vital for young people with SEND as they take their first steps into employment. A big thank you to The Harris and Preston City Council for supporting this.

We’re always keen to work with more teams and employers who want to make a difference and help create meaningful opportunities.

👋 Meet Archie, the new intern at The Harris!

As part of the DFN Project SEARCH supported internship programme, his placement highlights the The Harris and Preston City Council's dedication to inclusive employment and widening access to meaningful opportunities.

Archie, will be working across the Visitor Services Team, gaining practical experience in Library services and customer service while contributing to the day-to-day operation of a busy cultural hub.

Good luck Archie!

🚀 It’s been a busy few weeks at our Lancashire County Council supported internship site since February half term, with several of our interns starting new placements to gain fresh experiences and continue building their skills.

💻 Jaudaan has begun a placement with Digital Services, giving him the opportunity to develop his ICT skills and gain experience in an area linked to his future career goals in technology.

📚 Harith has started working with Lancashire Archives and Local History where he is helping to scan Lancashire Life images so they can be digitised, supporting the preservation of local history while building his attention to detail and digital skills.

📦 Lewis has started his new placement at Loops Direct, where he is supporting the team with picking and packing customer orders, developing his organisation and accuracy in a fast-paced environment.

We’re really proud of the way our interns continue to step out of their comfort zones, learn new skills and grow in confidence in the workplace. 👏

A big thank you to all of our placement teams for supporting our interns and helping them develop valuable real-world experience.

📣 Are you aged 18–24, have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and ready to take the next step towards employment? We’d love to hear from you.

📄 Applications are open for our Supported Internship programme starting in September 2026.

Our DFN Project SEARCH Supported Internship programmes are delivered in partnership with:
🏢 Lancashire County Council
👮 Lancashire Police
📌 Plus a range of local employers across Preston and surrounding areas.

These internships are designed to prepare young people for employment by developing real workplace skills, building confidence and gaining valuable hands-on experience.

✨ You’ll be supported every step of the way by our friendly on-site team.

🔗 Apply here:
https://www.preston.ac.uk/supported-internship-form/

📩 Have questions? Get in touch:
[email protected]

Please feel free to share with anyone who may benefit 💙

Supported Internship Form - Preston College Please provide us with details of your parent, guardian or carer in the boxes below. We will use this information if necessary to help you with the application process.

🚆 Rail Experience – Liverpool Trip!

Today our interns travelled to Liverpool for part two of our Rail Experience with Community Rail Lancashire.

During the journey with Northern, interns completed travel activities on the train before exploring Albert Dock and Liverpool ONE, building confidence navigating a busy city environment. We enjoyed lunch together and finished the day with a round of Junkyard Golf before travelling back by train.

The interns were in fantastic spirits all day and it was brilliant to see their confidence grow in real-world settings.

A huge thank you to Sophia for facilitating such a fantastic day out 💙

🚆 Rail Experience Workshop 🚉

Last week we welcomed Sophia from Community Rail Lancashire who delivered a fantastic Rail Experience workshop with our interns.

They explored what to expect at train stations, matched signs and key areas around the platform, worked in pairs to plan and book journeys, learned important rail safety tips and discovered the wide range of careers available at Northern.

To put their learning into practice, the interns will take part in a train journey to Liverpool on Friday as part of the experience, building confidence, travelling independently and using their new skills in a real-world setting 💙✨

A brilliant, practical session that supported independence, teamwork and employability skills 🙌

Huge thanks to Sophia for such an engaging and informative experience! 👏

✨ Ready for the next step into employment?

Join us at our Supported Internship Open Event at Preston College

📅 Thursday 26 February
🕔 5pm to 6.30pm
📍 Preston College Theatre & Atrium

Our Supported Internship programmes are designed for young people aged 18 to 24 with an EHCP who are finishing education and preparing to move into paid work.

This is a supported pathway into real workplaces, helping interns build confidence, develop employability skills and progress into jobs.

On the evening you can:
✔ Meet our friendly team
✔ Hear from current interns
✔ Learn about placements with Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Police and a range of local employers
✔ Join our short presentation at 5.30pm to learn how the programme works
✔ Ask questions and explore your options

It’s relaxed, welcoming and a great chance to see if this could be the right next step for you or someone you support 💙

👉 Register using the QR code or visit: www.preston.ac.uk/internship

Preston College Lancashire County Council Lancashire Police DFN Project Search HQ Lancashire Local Offer

✨ We’re so proud to share that Archie has started his supported internship placement at The Harris 🏛️

Over his first few days, Archie has been settling into the building, getting to know the space and the collections 🖼️, and taking part in day-to-day tasks within the library 📚. He’s also begun his induction training, including developing his customer service skills 🤝

What has really stood out is how welcoming and inclusive the team at The Harris have been 🤍 From day one, Archie has felt part of the team, supported at his own pace and encouraged to build confidence in a brand new environment.

This placement means a great deal to us and is a brilliant example of how inclusive workplaces create meaningful opportunities for young people. We’re incredibly proud of Archie and so grateful to The Harris for such a warm welcome 💙