Line Manager Name: Laura Barnes
Job Title: Marketing, Communications and PR Officer
Pathway Programme: Pathways to Charity and Development
Summary of Organisation: We are a charity dedicated to connecting, supporting and promoting the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. Our aim is to support local charities, voluntary groups, and social enterprises to build a stronger and more sustainable community sector.
How did hosting an intern via the Professional Pathways programme benefit you and your organisation?
Cornwall VSF was gearing up for a sector-leading event, to introduce the VCSE to the new Integrated Care System. Having an intern gave us support to design a feedback system to gather as much information as possible. We used their impressive R&D skills to help us with this. We use the feedback gathered by the survey co-created with our intern to shape our future event offer. This will benefit charities and VCSE organisations in Cornwall, and in turn will benefit communities.
How was your experience of hosting a Pathways intern?
We are currently a remote organisation. Our intern rose to this challenge well. She attended our face-to-face event for 8 hours and took some amazing photos for us. We then arranged some face-to-face meeting to check she felt supported.
Given the Professional Pathways internship is 35 hours in total, how would you recommend ensuring both you and your intern(s) gain as much as possible from the experience?
I recommend designing or co-designing a plan to ensure the intern knows what’s expected of them. I had a call with our intern, to learn about their strengths and preferences, to design a project that is mutually beneficial.
Why would you recommend Professional Pathways to other employers?
Absolutely. The research and skillset these students have might be something other charities need, so I highly recommend employing an intern. It’s fantastic news that the interns are paid for their experience, opening this up to be as inclusive as possible.
What advice would you give to a student considering applying for Professional Pathways?
Have an initial call with the employer to ask for a robust project plan, which helps to design your hours well, and make the best use of your time. Don’t be afraid to challenge people and offer your viewpoint. You are skilled.