Amy, Housing Options

"I am an English graduate from the University of Leicester. Prior to this internship I did not have any experience of working in local government or in housing, therefore this 12-week summer placement has been a great opportunity to learn more about this sector.

Within the Housing Options and Homelessness team I was given the chance to shadow all members and areas of the vast team at West Suffolk. This included many trips out and about, including visiting the Bury Drop-in, as well as working in the office. My time here has opened my eyes to the way things work in local government and the effect it has. Especially working with those who are vulnerable, and this is something I have enjoyed being a part of.

Alongside the work within the Housing team I have also been involved in the intern group project, where we were tasked with creating a ‘skills development programme’. As part of this we hosted two large scale events at the end of the internship which showcased what was available across West Suffolk to help those who wanted to gain, improve and share their skills. Putting on these events was a challenging but rewarding experience that I enjoyed throughout my time here. We also created lots of smaller scale events, a flyer and a leaflet which will be included in our legacy after we leave.

Overall I have found the internship an interesting and worthwhile use of my summer. It has given me the opportunity to see how local government works, work with helping people in need, and a chance to meet some great people and make valuable connections for the future."