Disability charity helps interns to self-employment

A disability charity supporting people with additional needs into self-employment says the project will just "grow and grow".

SAMEE, which stands for Support and Mentoring Enabling Entrepreneurship, helps about 20 people explore and develop self-employment opportunities.

It is based in Bournemouth but also mentors people remotely and is looking to roll out to other parts of the country.

Project lead Rob Amey said: "These guys and girls have real talent. it just needs people to help bring that out of them... and hopefully make a sustainable business."

SAMEE started in 2016 to address a lack of support for people who are neurodivergent or who face other challenges.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent, Mr Amey said: "For many people a nine-to-five job is never going to work.

"When you are considering self-employment, you can fit your work hours around your health needs and your processing needs and how many hours you are comfortable to work at a time.

"We are very bespoke but focused on every aspect of our intern's life, not just their business."

Rob Amey and Logan told Radio Solent's Katie Martin about the recent exhibition

Artist Logan, who is a second-year intern, said: "I would sit in my room doing artwork ranging from dark art, scrap modelling and Celtic jewellery.

"At the moment they are helping me overcome my own personal challenges and well as the usual challenges of day-to-day life."

Logan and his fellow cohort of interns recently held an exhibition at Poole Lighthouse to showcase their skills.

He said: "It can be overwhelming, being an introvert. I've always kept my arts and crafts to myself and never really shown it to the public before."

Mr Amey added: "It's about everybody feeling valued and if you do have life challenges not being steered down a particular path.

"It's such a unique opportunity because nobody really teaches self-employment skills."