Independent Living Advisor and Project Support Intern in Eastleigh

OpenSight is excited to be offering a new internship through the Get Set Progress programme, a national initiative run by Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) in partnership with RNIB. This internship is designed to support blind and partially sighted people into meaningful employment within the charity and sight loss sector.

If you’re looking to build valuable work experience, develop new skills, and make a real difference to the lives of others living with vision impairment, this could be the role for you.

About the Role

• Location: Hybrid – Office in Eastleigh, home working, and travel across Hampshire
• Salary: Based on the Real Living Wage
• Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours/week)
• Contract: 9-month fixed term
• Closing date for applications: 14th November
• Interviews: Tuesday 18th November

As an Independent Living Advisor and Project Support Intern, you’ll help design and deliver a wide range of workshops, events, and one-to-one support for people with sight loss. You’ll play a key role in helping individuals gain confidence, stay independent, and feel more connected to their communities.

You’ll work alongside our experienced services team and have the chance to contribute to new and existing projects that make a genuine impact. You’ll also be part of a national cohort of interns benefiting from:

• Specialist employment training and development
• A personal mentor for guidance and support
• Opportunities to network with other interns and sector professionals
• CV and interview support from TPT’s Employment Team

Key Responsibilities

• Create and update time bound project plans to ensure we deliver workshops, projects and sessions effectively in line with funders objectives and our internal goals.
• Research and design workshops and information sessions in line with funders objectives and desired outcomes.
• Engage with local communities and develop relevant partnerships to support the delivery of the role objectives.
• Work 121 with clients in a person centred way, understanding their challenges and desired outcomes, signposting as appropriate and making internal referrals within OpenSight if needed.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to promote these events, organising logistics and discussing with clients directly the benefits of attending.
• Support the presentation of information and content during workshops, facilitating group discussion and sharing of lived experience.
• Record data and outcomes post events and store these in the system to demonstrate the impact of the events, identifying any learning opportunities for improvement and capturing meaningful data for future funding bids.

Generic Responsibilities

• Adhere to all OpenSight policies and procedures.
• Attend internal meetings as required, contributing to the regular planning, promoting and developing of the aims and strategic objectives of OpenSight.
• To promote the ethos, mission and objectives of OpenSight actively and positively at external meetings and events as required.
• To undertake all tasks and responsibilities related to the role and such other reasonable requests from OpenSight.
• To be willing to undertake training and development necessary to the role.
• To work effectively as a member of a diverse team and in a team spirit.
• Maintain confidential electronic and paper records on service users being aware of the statutory requirements of the GDPR Data Protection Act and OpenSight’s policies in respect of data, personal and confidential information.
• Visit OpenSight’s clubs/groups as requested.
• Organise and facilitate service feedback reviews as required.

Person Specification

The chosen candidate will possess the following skills:

• This post has a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the successful applicant must be a person who is blind or partially sighted, in line with The Equality Act 2010.
• Willingness to travel to the TPT Hub in London for intern development events throughout the course of the internship programme (costs covered by TPT).
• Having not previously undertaken the Get Set Progress internship programme.
• Experience of working in a client facing role.

Skills and Competencies:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Organisational and planning skills.
• Confident in using Outlook, Word and Excel software packages.
• Ability to work within a cross functional organisation.

Qualifications:

• Good all-round minimum education with GCSE or equivalent in English and Maths is required.
• Project management or planning events experience.
• Experience of delivering training or education in a group setting.
• A background in provision of services for disability or disadvantaged groups.

What To Do Next – How to Apply

If this role is of interest, please submit your CV and a covering letter to Ian Morris, Head of Services, OpenSight at: ian.morris@opensight.org.uk. If you would like an informal conversation about the role please send an email to the above address.