Aviva and The Wherry School are inviting young people and their families to learn about supported internship opportunities for young adults with autism.

Applications for the second cohort of the Supported Internship Programme, which aids young adults with autism in transitioning from education to employment, will open this month.

The programme is a one-year transition-to-work initiative for 17 to 19-year-olds with autism and an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP).

It is a collaboration between Aviva, The Wherry School Trust, Norfolk County Council, the national transition-to-work charity DFN Project SEARCH, and Pluss.

Interns will work from Aviva’s city centre offices in Norwich, supported by an on-site job coach.

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The internships will start in September 2025.

Owen Morris, managing director of personal lines at Aviva, and the project sponsor, said: "Aviva is thrilled to continue its collaboration with DFN Project Search, The Wherry School, and Pluss, for the second year running, supporting young adults with autism spectrum conditions through our year-long internship programme at Aviva’s Norwich offices."

Rachel Quick, principal at The Wherry School, said: “The Wherry School Trust seeks to nurture the talents of autistic learners and to provide an educational setting that celebrates Autistic identity.

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“This partnership demonstrates how we can work together to remove unnecessary employment barriers and allow our students to flourish."

The Wherry School, Norwich, hosted an open evening about the programme on Monday, October 14, to help young people and their families find out more about the internship opportunities and how to apply.

The event was an opportunity to meet the education team at The Wherry School.

Attendees also met the wider project team at Aviva and other young people exploring similar workplace opportunities.