The Harris is proud to announce that it has welcomed a new intern, Archie, through the DFN Project SEARCH supported internship programme, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive employment and widening access to meaningful work opportunities for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

The internship is delivered in partnership with DFN Project SEARCH, a national charity that supports young adults to make a successful transition from education into paid employment through workplace-based learning.

As part of the programme, interns gain hands-on experience, develop employability skills, confidence and receive on-the-job training.

Archie, who has recently joined The Harris, will be working across the Visitor Services Team, gaining practical experience in Library services and customer service while contributing to the day-to-day operation of a busy cultural hub.

Archie said, “During my internship, I’ve particularly enjoyed being positioned on the different floors keeping watch of the collections, speaking with members of the public, and shelving the library books. The internship at The Harris has given me a taster of the Visitor Services role which would be something I would consider in the future.”

By taking part in DFN Project SEARCH, The Harris joins a growing network of employers committed to building more inclusive workplaces and supporting positive employment outcomes for young people. 

As well as aiding Archie in gaining future employment, the placement also acts as a testbed for Preston City Council, enabling services to explore inclusive employment practices, and identify how similar roles could be embedded more widely across Council teams in the future.

This approach supports longer-term workforce development while helping to remove barriers to employment for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Councillor Hindle Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said: “We are delighted to be working with Preston College and DFN Project SEARCH and to welcome Archie to The Harris. Inclusive employment is an important value for Preston City Council, and this programme is fantastic as it provides learning experiences that allow us to coach and upskill interns, so they are ready to take their next steps in employment.  I am genuinely really excited that this is the first step of supported internships for Preston City Council.”