Episodes, Kirsty Matthews
From Classroom to Career: The Power of Supported Internships with Kirsty Matthews
Happy New Year! I’m thrilled to kick off 2026 with our first podcast episode this year! Whether you’re recovering from last night’s celebrations or enjoying a refreshing walk, this insightful discussion is the perfect way to start the year.
Dale is joined by Kirsty Matthews, the CEO of DFN Project Search, to discuss ‘From classroom to career: The power of supported internships’.
Kirsty sheds light on the challenges faced by young people with learning disabilities in the job market. She shares a shocking statistic: less than 5% of individuals with a learning disability known to their local authority in England secure paid employment, compared to 80% of their peers. DFN Project SEARCH aims to change that, with an ambitious goal of supporting over 10,000 young adults into meaningful paid employment by 2030.
Kirsty discusses:
- The importance of creating structured pathways to employment.
- How supported internships build confidence and skills in a supportive environment.
- The incredible impact of seeing neurodiverse individuals thrive in the workplace.
“It raises everybody’s expectation about what is possible. Bit by bit, we can begin to change the whole face of how we work and take those barriers that we were talking about out.”
Kirsty Matthews
Listen to discover how enhanced career opportunities can empower young adults with learning disabilities and those on the autism spectrum to lead positive, independent, and fulfilling lives.
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Watch the podcast
Watch the video recording of the podcast on YouTube
Contact Kirsty
About Kirsty Matthews
Kirsty was appointed as CEO of DFN Project SEARCH in September 2024.
DFN Project SEARCH is a national charity serving young adults who have a learning disability or are autistic, or both, to make a positive transition from education into permanent full-time employment.
Her previous roles include:
- CEO of hft (2020 – 2023)
- Managing Director of Virgin Care (2017 – 2020)
- Non-Executive Director of Salisbury Hospital NHS Foundations (2016 – 2017)
- CEO of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (2008 – 2015)
- Director of Business Development at Nutricia UK (1996 – 2007)
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