“I can now get the bus without needing to ask for help.” It was a small line in Lexi Wilson’s speech on Monday, but it captured exactly what the Supported Internship programme, run by South Devon College, had given her.
Lexi was one of five students celebrated this week for completing the course and securing paid work with NHS Professionals: Bibi Thomas, Riley Tooley, Mackenzie Carter, Lexi Wilson and Ciaran Cooper all move into employment having spent the past year working across Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. This year, five of the six students on the programme, 83 per cent, are moving straight into paid work, with the sixth progressing onto specialist post-16 education provider Eat That Frog to continue building towards employment.
Aspire supports young people with learning difficulties and disabilities into real work placements, building skills and confidence alongside a structured course. For this group, the placements meant real hospital environments, real responsibilities, and real colleagues who came to rely on them.
The celebration event on Monday brought together staff, employers and the students themselves, but the moment everyone remembers came when Kieran and Lexi took the floor to speak.
Kieran focused on the people who had backed him along the way. “I want to thank all of the job coaches, staff and employers who have helped me push myself, ask more questions about anything to do with the hospital and working environments,” he said. “I’m very thankful for them for giving me the opportunity to learn as much as I can.”
Lexi’s reflection was more personal. “When I first started, I wasn’t very confident but being a part of Aspire and working at the hospital has helped to build my confidence and given me opportunities to talk to more people,” she said. “I can also now get the bus without needing to ask for help.”
Alex Howarth, Head of SEND, Learning Opportunities and Vulnerable Learners, said it was that moment, watching students stand up and own their stories, that defined the afternoon. “Each story was personal and showed real resilience. What really stood out was the way students took ownership of their experiences. They showed real independence, making decisions, solving problems, and growing in confidence throughout the programme.”
That growth did not happen by accident. Isobel Priestley, Aspire Lead for Supported Internships, said the group’s work ethic spoke for itself. “They have not only worked hard to complete their work placements and Aspire Course, but they have impressed so much that they have all secured work with NHS Professionals and will be starting work soon. We couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Joe Teape, Chief Executive Officer of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, attended the celebration in person, a sign of how seriously the Trust takes its relationship with the programme. He pointed to what the right support can unlock. “Aspire shows the difference the right support and opportunity can make, helping people build confidence, develop skills and contribute in a real working environment.” The Trust has backed the programme for more than a decade, and Teape said NHS teams benefit as much from the partnership as the students do.
That sentiment was echoed by Sean O’Connor, Facilities Helpdesk Manager at the Trust, who has worked with Aspire students for around 14 years. “They kept smiling even when things got tough for them. I get so much personally from the students. Not only are we helping them move forward in their lives, but they also teach us how to better support them.” His team, he said, looks forward to welcoming the next group of Aspire students each year.
For Bibi, Riley, Mackenzie, Lexi and Ciaran, Monday marked the end of one chapter and the start of another. Five different journeys, now arriving at the same destination: careers with NHS Professionals, and the confidence to take on whatever comes next.
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