Over the last 10 weeks, Bristol City Leap has had the privilege of welcoming Matt to the team through Sixteen Co-operative. This experience aligns with our ongoing commitment to nurturing talent and providing young people with meaningful opportunities to engage with the pressing issue of decarbonisation in our city.
Project Pilot, organised by Sixteen Co-operative, is a one-year Supported Internship program designed to help young people with disabilities and autism secure sustainable paid employment.
This initiative partners with employers willing to provide work placements of three or four days a week for 10 weeks per student. By participating, companies not only have the chance to diversify their workforce but also reap the benefits of fresh perspectives and enthusiasm from a part-time team member. In return, these young individuals gain confidence, learn vital employability skills, and enhance their work experience.
Throughout the internship, students receive dedicated support from a job coach who assists them in mastering new tasks and adapting to their roles. Importantly, placements are tailored to each student’s specific sector of interest, ensuring a rewarding and engaging experience.
Matt’s Experience
Matt shared his journey with us, reflecting on the projects he undertook, the support he received, and the skills and knowledge he developed over his 10 weeks with us:
“I enjoyed working on all the tasks but if I had to highlight a few of them I would say the resouce mapping for Wind Turbine School Playing Field task and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure tasks were enjoyable because they were more research-based and that was a new experience for me. I also enjoyed some of the more creative tasks including designing a poster and getting to do some content creation which was another new set of skills I enjoyed learning.”
“I felt very supported by the Bristol City Leap colleagues, and I felt this for several reasons. Firstly, throughout the day Racheal would check in on me so that I always knew what I was doing every day and if there were any upcoming events or meetings I should know about. They were also great at making any adjustments I needed to work at my best. For example, I had a desk in a quiet corner of the office reserved for me for the whole duration of the internship, which really helped.”
“Overall, I found everybody very approachable, always willing to help me if I needed it, explaining things in a clear way. This was particularly helpful for when I wanted to learn a new skill such as content creation.”
“I’ve gained plenty of skills during this work placement. The more general ones would be time management and flexibility as I always had multiple projects on the go at all times, so prioritising which tasks to focus on and knowing when projects needed to be done was a skill that I put into practice many times. Also, I expanded my computer skills by learning how to use Canva and getting more experience using Excel.”
“During the wind turbine resouce mapping project, I practised problem-solving skills as the task was about looking into the feasibility of installing wind turbines on school playing fields and the obstacles that could get in the way of that potential project. Part of this project also included data analysis and management as I had to collate data from multiple sources and input data onto a spreadsheet whilst showing great attention to detail. My verbal and written communication skills were also improved upon as I had to contact new colleagues in person, on Microsoft Teams and via email. This increased my confidence and displayed my teamwork skills as I had to communicate with various team members and use their expertise to help me complete tasks.”
“Another skill I learnt was independent research, and a task that highlighted that would be the Electric Vehicle charging Infrastructure (EVI) competitor overview task. For this task, I had to input data into a spreadsheet using my research from multiple data sources. I had to find EV chargers from a list and discover which competing chargers were nearby and what features they have. I also practised these skills in another task where I had to update a spreadsheet for event spaces and caterers that Bristol City Leap might want to use in the future. I independently researched venues around Bristol and what rooms and facilities they had to offer so that I could take that data and enter it into a spreadsheet that the office could use. There was an element of collaboration as well because I would take recommendations from colleagues so that I could expand our list of potential venues.”
“It wasn’t all admin tasks, though; I got to engage in some creative tasks such as making a poster on Canva for the implementation team showing before and after pictures of a recently retrofitted housing block. As well as designing the layout of the poster I had to find the most relevant photos provided to me by the implementation team.”
“Later on in the internship, I got to do some content creation for the website, including a case study on a recipient of the Community Energy Fund and the very post you’re reading now!”
“I would like to add that I enjoyed my time on the internship and that I got to do a lot more than I expected. These things include a volunteering day where we went to St Anne’s House and helped with some interior painting for one of their halls. I also got to go on various outings such as visiting some of the potential meeting venues, going to SPARKS Bristol to see the Bristol City Leap information boards, visiting one of the retrofit sites to see some of the work being done, and taking a tour of the Castle Park Energy Centre. All of this is to say that I felt like part of the team and gained more experience than just the office admin skills I was expecting.”
Sixteen Co-operative’s Perspective
Matt’s Job Coach, Becky, was on-site at the start of the internship to ensure he had everything needed to thrive in his role. As Matt grew into the position, she transitioned to periodic check-ins to allow him the space to excel independently. She shared her thoughts about Matt’s journey with Bristol City Leap:
“It has been very encouraging to visit Matt on his placement. It was very evident from day one that Rachel and the team were well prepared to welcome Matt and to provide interesting work for him to complete.”
“Each member of the team seems to have planned thoughtful and meaningful work that has served to build up Matt’s skills and experience. Everyone was keen to provide clear explanations and were also open to being approachable if any issues arose that needed clarity. Matt has developed online research skills and created content for the website and has even been part of team-building activities, volunteering for a day of painting and decorating.”
“Hopefully, the whole team has witnessed Matt’s skills, talents, willingness to learn, and ability to put advice into practice. Some simple reasonable adjustments, such as having a quieter desk space reserved for the placement, have meant that Matt has been able to contribute and successfully deliver for the team. It was also helpful to have Rachel regularly available as a point of contact if there were any questions.”
Rob, Senior Job Coach from Sixteen Co-operative, who coordinated the internship through Project Pilot, also shared his insights about Matt’s experience at Bristol City Leap:
“Rachael and the team at Bristol City Leap have worked cooperatively with Project Pilot to overcome some initial logistical difficulties that led to a delay in the commencement date of the internship and have since proven to be a very supportive and enthusiastic employer. They’ve worked hard to welcome Matt into the team, given him tasks that have played to his strengths and increased his skill set, ensured he is supported appropriately, and communicated well with Project Pilot Job Coaches to ensure Matt’s internship has been successful.”
Consultation
Hosting Matt through Project Pilot, organised by Sixteen Co-operative, has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved. It has reaffirmed our commitment to equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration they need to contribute to a sustainable future. As we continue our work towards decarbonising Bristol, we look forward to providing more opportunities for the next generation to get involved and make a difference.
By investing in tomorrow’s leaders, we are helping to create a more sustainable city and fostering an inclusive and equitable community. At Bristol City Leap, we believe that the journey to a carbon-neutral Bristol should involve everyone, and we are proud to play a role in shaping the future of our city.
Are you interested in finding out more about our work in Bristol beyond energy? Check out our Community page to learn more.
