Call-out for organisations to host our London Borough of Culture interns

The internship programme provides a unique opportunity to support 9 young people, aged 18 – 25, to benefit from a full time, paid position for 6-months, in Wandsworth-based arts organisations. Wandsworth Council will pay the interns London Living Wage and they will work full time (36 hours per week) in your organisation.

These roles are designed to support the next generation of the creative workforce in gaining experience, skills and insight into the arts. We are seeking host organisations that can offer roles that will give an intern a broad understanding of the organisation’s work, insight into the creative industries and a range of responsibilities that will allow them to build a variety of skills and challenge them. 

Internships will be open to those aged 18 – 25 who live in the Borough of Wandsworth and are no longer in full time education. Priority will be given to intern applicants who are:

• Not in education, employment, or training (NEET)
• In receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
• Disabled, neurodivergent or have a mental-health condition.
• From an under-represented group, including those of the Global Majority, LGBTQAI+ and care-experienced
   

Application Deadline: Fri 28 March.

Organisation Eligibility

Organisations must be based in Wandsworth and have a minimum of one full time employee. They must also have a dedicated workspace in the borough, this cannot be a private residence. Their work must focus on one or more of the following, Combined arts: including festivals and carnivals, Dance, Literature, Music, Museums and collections, Theatre, Visual arts, Film & TV and Digital Media.

Host organisations will:

• Create an entry-level role for the intern with a list of responsibilities and projects for the intern to take ownership of.
  • This can include project support, marketing and comms, fundraising and supporter care, administration, customer support.
  • Roles should provide the intern with a range of experiences and the opportunity to develop a range of skills.
  • Workplans must involve the interns in some element of a project taking place during the London Borough of Culture year (until March 2026).
• Interview relevant shortlisted applicants.
• Allocate an appropriate full-time employee to line manage the intern, providing mentorship, dictate their work plan, conduct probation meetings and provide feedback. Wandsworth Council will provide pastoral support to the interns.
• Before the programme, line managers from the organisations will attend a Host Organisation Training Session to prepare them for working with a young person, and outline their responsibilities, including the expectations for the Experience Days, where they will take it in turns to host the cohort of interns for a day at their organisation.
• Provide a safe place of work that the intern can access on their workdays. Working from home can be organised with the intern where appropriate.
• Create the intern's set days and working hours.
• Provide appropriate workplace training to enable the intern to carry out their work safely and competently
• Manage health and safety and appropriate risk assessments during the intern’s work placement.
• Provide a First Day pack ahead of the intern’s start day with key information .
• Host the cohort of interns at your organisation for an Experience Day to give them insight into your organisation’s work.
• Provide Wandsworth Council with reports on intern’s progress. Attend evaluation meetings and provide Wandsworth Council with data and feedback.
• Provide the intern with a reference at the end of the internship.

Organisation Fee

Wandsworth Council will cover the costs of recruiting and hiring the interns as well as their wages. Interns will be paid for 36 hours a week London Living Wage. Interns will also receive a training day before starting their internships to prepare them for their placement. 

Host organisations will receive a payment of £1,500 per intern to support their organisation to deliver a high-quality experience for the intern. This can be spent on equipment, such as a laptop, additional training, staff time, travel and Experience Days.

Timeline

If you would like to have a conversation with a member of the team please email Roisin on roisin.kerslake-sim@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk