Channel 4 Instills Confidence Into Interns

Get Set Progress interns were given the opportunity to develop presentation and public speaking skills with Jamie Ward, Head of Learning and Development at Channel 4, and Mollie Foskett, Learning and Development Advisor at Channel 4,  at our London office. The interns presented personal insights into their sight loss journeys, career histories and unique qualities. Constructive feedback from peers and session leaders helped improve their presentation and public speaking skills.

Throughout the interns’ presentations, Jamie and Mollie offered advice on managing nerves, understanding the audience, structuring and articulating presentations and additional public speaking tips. The interns left the session feeling more confident in their ability to present in a professional setting, a better understanding of their peers and gained valuable insights into shared experiences related to visual impairments.

Interns were then offered an online follow-up session to present their current internship roles, goals, aspirations and key takeaways from the programme. These sessions provided further peer insights and constructive feedback from session leads.

Amy McAinsh – Assistive Technology intern – Sight Scotland Veterans said:

“I found the input from Jamie really useful. I liked how we decided as a group how we wanted our feedback structured. I liked hearing his thoughts and the wider group’s thoughts on my presentation. I also found it useful that we had an in-person session and one online as it is helpful to practice both situations.”

Becky Cooke – Grants Intern – Thomas Pocklington Trust said:

“I really enjoyed both the in-person and online sessions, with the tips regarding calming one’s nerves before a presentation and creating a good presentation structure being very helpful. The sessions also gave me a chance to put these skills into practice, something I greatly appreciated.”

Jamie Ward, Head of Talent and Learning at Channel 4 said:

“We thoroughly enjoyed working with the TPT interns: we understood more than ever that work builds confidence and gives purpose, so well done to TPT for challenging the incorrect stereotype that partially sighted people can’t perform and out-perform their peers. This was an incredibly talented bunch of people and I felt privileged to meet them and work with them.”

Channel 4 is one of the UK’s best loved public service broadcasters, with a key remit to represent unheard voices and to create change through entertainment. Channel 4 are hosting a Get Set Progress intern for the current round of internships.

The overall consensus among participants was overwhelmingly positive. Charlie Rashbrook, Internship Coordinator at Thomas Pocklington Trust, remarked:

“Throughout the entire process, from organising to undertaking the session, Jamie and Mollie were fantastic. They understood what would be best to hone our interns’ public speaking skills, were flexible and accommodating, and made everyone feel comfortable sharing their experiences. The interns were thoroughly engaged throughout the in-person and online sessions and have come away with improved confidence and capabilities to present to the best of their abilities.”

Jen Sweeney, Corporate Engagement Manager at TPT said:

“The sessions hosted by Channel 4 have been amazingly insightful for our current internship cohort and we are very grateful for their support.  I am delighted that the team at Channel 4 are also hosting an intern from our Get Set Progress internship programme in the forthcoming cohort.”

For more information about partnerships at TPT, and to find out more about the TPT Skill Share calendar of events, please contact jen.sweeney@pocklington.org.uk