Meet Grace: Haringey Supported Intern Voices Project 

Key Points

• Grace Dieu Loponda, a 22-year-old supported intern, works in the Supported Employment Team at Haringey Council as an Admin and Communications Assistant.
• Grace is authoring a series of six articles as part of the “Supported Intern Voices” project during her work placement.
• Her main tasks include creating articles and a digital newsletter to share real experiences from supported interns and the skills they develop.
• Grace enjoys sports like football (Arsenal fan, favourites Thierry Henry and Bukayo Saka) and tennis; influenced by her dad and uncle since the Invincibles era.
• Music passions include hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats, and 2010s pop; skilled at recognising songs and artists, prefers hip-hop, grime, and old-school R&B.
• Free-time activities: bowling, cinema trips, park walks with friends; home time spent on laptop watching YouTube, work tasks, and safe online sports streaming (skill taught by dad).
• Supported internships target young people aged 16–25 with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP), offering work-based practical experience and support towards paid employment.
• Programme benefits: real work experience for those with special needs/disabilities, combines workplace training with English, Maths, and employability skills; three work rotations per academic year starting in autumn, guided by job coaches.
• Values: builds confidence, independence, social/emotional wellbeing, and job skills via job coaches and mentors.
• Key partnerships: between colleges, local authorities, and businesses across administration, hospitality, retail; employers provide tailored placements with structured guidance.
• Grace’s role in the project: develops professional communication skills through planning/writing articles, interviewing interns, selecting newsletter content, and structuring information.
• This is the first article in the series; future instalments cover interviewed interns’ experiences, programme activities, and placements, with links on the Haringey Council website.

Haringey, London (North London News) January 30, 2026 – Grace Dieu Loponda, a 22-year-old supported intern in Haringey Council’s Supported Employment Team, has launched the “Supported Intern Voices” project with her debut article, spotlighting real-life experiences of young people gaining vital work skills.

As reported directly from Grace Dieu Loponda’s article on the Haringey Council platform, she introduced herself stating:

“My name is Grace Dieu Loponda, and I am 22 years old. I am a supported intern working in the Supported Employment Team at Haringey Council. Currently, I am an Admin and Communication Assistant, where one of my main tasks is helping to create a series of articles and a newsletter digitally as part of my work experience.”

This initiative forms part of a six-article series penned by Grace during her placement, aiming to amplify the voices of supported interns while showcasing their personal growth.

What Is Grace Dieu Loponda’s Role at Haringey Council?

Grace Dieu Loponda serves as an Admin and Communications Assistant within Haringey Council’s Supported Employment Team. According to her own account in the article published on the council’s website, her responsibilities centre on digital content creation. She explained:

“one of my main tasks is helping to create a series of articles and a newsletter digitally as part of my work experience.”

This role allows Grace to hone practical skills in a real-world setting. The “Supported Intern Voices” project, which she is leading through authorship, represents a key output of her placement. It comprises six articles, with this piece marking the inaugural entry.

Grace detailed how her involvement builds professional capabilities:

“As part of my placement as an Admin and Communication Assistant, I am building my professional communication skills. This includes planning and writing articles, interviewing other interns, choosing the newsletter content, and organising the information into a clear structure.”

Future articles in the series, as promised by Grace, will delve into the stories of interns she has interviewed, their programme experiences, activities, and placements. She noted:

“The following articles share more about the interns I interviewed, our experiences on the programme, and the activities and placements we have taken part in. These will be linked below so the full project can be explored on this website.”

Who Is Grace Dieu Loponda and What Are Her Interests?

Grace Dieu Loponda, aged 22, brings a vibrant personality to her internship. In her article, she shared personal insights to connect with readers. On sports, she revealed:

“I enjoy watching sports, especially football and tennis. Arsenal is my favourite team, influenced by my dad and uncle. I have admired them since the Invincibles era, which is when I was born.”

Her football fandom highlights icons like Thierry Henry—”My all-time favourite player is Thierry Henry because of his impact and mentality”—and current star Bukayo Saka:

“currently, I am a huge fan of Bukayo Saka for his creativity and style of play.”

Music forms another cornerstone of Grace’s life. She stated:

“Music is another passion of mine — I love genres like hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats, and 2010s pop. I am great at recognising songs and artists, and while I do not have one favourite artist, I mostly listen to hip-hop, grime, and old-school R&B.”

How Does Grace Maintain Social Activities and Wellbeing?

Beyond work and hobbies, Grace emphasises balance. She described her social pursuits:

“In my free time, I enjoy social activities such as bowling, cinema trips, and walks in the park to stay connected with my friends outside of internship.”

At home, she engages digitally:

“I also spend time on my laptop at home watching YouTube videos, doing work-related tasks, and streaming live sports safely online — a skill my dad taught me. This has been a source of entertainment and wellbeing for me.”

These activities underscore her commitment to wellbeing, blending social interaction with safe online habits.

What Exactly Is a Supported Internship Programme?

Supported internships provide a structured pathway for young people. Grace defined it clearly:

“A supported internship is a worked-based programme for young people aged 16–25 who have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). It provides practical experience and skills while offering formal support to help them progress into paid employment.”

This programme targets individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), offering a bridge to the workplace.

What Are the Key Benefits of Supported Internships?

The benefits are multifaceted, as outlined by Grace. She highlighted:

“This programme gives young people with special needs and disabilities the chance to gain real work experience in a supportive setting. It combines practical workplace training with continued learning in subjects like English, Maths, and employability skills.”

Structure includes:

“Starting each autumn, interns complete three work rotations during the academic year, guided by a job coach who supports their transition into employment.”

Such elements ensure interns build tangible skills while receiving ongoing support.

What Values Do Supported Internships Promote?

Core values focus on holistic development. Grace noted:

“Interns receive guidance from job coaches and mentors to build confidence, independence, and social and emotional wellbeing, while developing the skills needed for future jobs.”

This guidance fosters not just technical abilities but also personal resilience.

Which Partnerships Drive Supported Internships in Haringey?

Collaborations are essential. According to Grace’s article:

“Partnerships between colleges, local authorities, and businesses help increase placements and participation. These collaborations span sectors such as administration, hospitality, and retail.”

Employers play a pivotal role: “Employers work closely with colleges to offer tailored placements in professional environments, supported by structured guidance.”

In Haringey, the council’s Supported Employment Team exemplifies this, hosting interns like Grace.

How Does Grace’s Article Fit into the Broader Supported Intern Voices Project?

This piece launches a series amplifying intern voices. Grace connected it directly: “This article is part of the Supported Intern Voices project, a series of six articles written by Grace as part of his placement as an Admin and Communications Assistant. This series shares real experiences from supported interns and the skills they are developing.”

(Note: The original text references “his placement,” but context confirms Grace as female; reporting adheres to provided details.)

The project empowers interns to tell their stories, with Grace at the forefront through interviewing peers and curating content.

Why Are Supported Internships Vital for Haringey Youth?

In North London boroughs like Haringey, such programmes address employment gaps for SEND youth. Grace’s initiative highlights local impact, aligning with council goals for inclusive employment. By sharing unfiltered experiences, it demystifies the journey from education to work.

Haringey Council’s involvement signals commitment to partnerships, potentially inspiring similar efforts across London.

What Comes Next in the Supported Intern Voices Series?

Readers can anticipate deeper dives. Grace promised links to subsequent articles on the council website, covering intern interviews, programme insights, and placement details.

This series not only documents progress but also advocates for expanded opportunities.

Grace Dieu Loponda’s story exemplifies the transformative power of supported internships. Through her words, Haringey residents glimpse the dedication behind these programmes. As the series unfolds, it promises richer narratives from the interns themselves.