Sight Loss Charities Open New Get Set Progress Internships Initiative

Date posted: 23rd July 2024

At Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), we believe that everyone deserves equal access to career opportunities. However, only one in four registered blind and partially sighted people are in employment, and this has not significantly changed since similar research was carried out in 1991(RNIB, 2020).

Thomas Pocklington Trust and Sight Loss Councils’ vision for action – Employment Equality Bill that could be introduced by the new Government asks for financial incentives to businesses that recruit visually impaired individuals, promoting workplace diversity so that blind and partially sighted people have equal employment opportunities.

TPT’s successful Get Set Progress Internship Programme in collaboration with The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is working with employers from across England, Scotland and Wales to offer exciting opportunities across the public, private and voluntary sectors to blind and partially sighted people looking to kickstart their career or return to work after experiencing sight loss.

Since 2015, 85% of the interns taking part in the programme have secured paid employment within just six months of leaving the programme.

Now 30 new paid internship roles are being advertised for blind and partially sighted jobseekers to Get Set Progress. There are many different roles on offer in accountancy, communications, fundraising, research, performing arts and sales.

The new internships are open for applications from blind and partially sighted candidates*

Links to all roles and how to apply are on the Get Set Progress internships page.

Josh Feehan, TPT’s Head of Internships, said:

“I am very excited to be launching 30 internships this year. We are partnering with amazing employers from England, Scotland and Wales who are keen to benefit from the talented blind and partially sighted people that the programme attracts.

“Our internships scheme helps blind and partially sighted people to develop skills and build their confidence in the workplace. And we know it works. 18 out of 23 who completed our last programme secured employment within six months.”

Martin O’ Kane, Head of Employment at RNIB, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Get Set Progress Programme for another year following the success of previous years. We are committed to helping blind and partially sighted people into employment and this programme continues to deliver just that.”

“Internships are a great way of enabling people to try out different roles and also to educate employers about how to support staff with sight loss. We are urging people to apply for these roles.”

TPT has been providing internships to people, for nearly 10 years, recognising the significant benefit the opportunities bring to both the blind and partially sighted person and the hosting organisations taking part. Across 2023 and 2024, Get Set Progress has seen over 50 blind and partially sighted interns benefitting from the programme. The scheme contributes up to 50% of the funding for the posts and TPT supports the interns and partner organisations throughout the nine-month placements.

If you are interested in any of the opportunities or would like further information regarding the programme, contact the Internships team at: internships@pocklington.org.uk.

*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.