We have been working in partnership with Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Achieving for Children, and DFN Project SEARCH to deliver supported internships since September 2024.

The programme is a study pathway for young people aged 16–25 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan who want to move into paid employment with extra support.

Interns are based at the resort five days a week, completing workplace rotations, developing employability skills, and gaining confidence and independence to prepare for adulthood and work. 

Where you could work

Interns complete workplace rotations across a wide variety of departments at the resort, including:

• Costume and uniform.
• Facilities.
• Retail and admissions.
• Park presentations.
• Waste and recycling.
• Landscapes.
• Zoo education. 
• Hotel.
• Warehouse.

What you will learn

At Chessington World of Adventures, interns combine classroom learning with exciting work placements across different areas of the resort.

Interns will learn to:

• Gain job-specific skills in departments such as retail, admissions, facilities, landscaping, and waste and recycling.
• Develop employability skills including teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and communication.
• Improve English and maths, embedded in everyday workplace tasks.
• Build social and communication skills in a busy, customer-facing environment.
• Increase confidence and independence, preparing for adult life and work.

Interns also complete Chessington World of Adventures staff training and induction, which includes:

• Customer service skills.
• Health and safety.
• Park security.
• Merlin values.

This training, combined with hands-on workplace rotations, helps interns gain transferable skills that prepare them for employment both within the leisure and hospitality industry and in the wider community.

What happens after the programme

Interns on this programme go on to secure jobs at the resort, or use the skills, confidence, and experience they have gained to find employment in the wider community.

Interns also receive up to nine months of follow-on support from a job coach. This extra support helps them:

• Settle into a new job.
• Build confidence at work.
• Continue with their job search if needed.

This means the support doesn’t stop when the programme ends, interns are guided as they take their next steps into adult life and employment.