What is SMF?
The Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) is a charity which aims to make a practical improvement in social mobility for young people. The SMF was founded in 2005 by Linkson Jack (who served as Chief Executive until January 2009) in order to provide opportunities, and networks of support for 16-17 year olds who are unable to get them from their schools or families.
They now work with young people from all across the UK in the years prior to and during university, and their Aspiring Professionals Programme offers tailored support across 11 career sectors including law.
Provide an Internship
One way that Employers can provide support is to their place of work to an SMF student and see them develop professionally. Many opportunities for work experience go to relatives of employees or clients. By hosting an SMF student on an internship, you will be giving an opportunity to someone who wouldn’t be able to get it otherwise.
SMF internships are short, one – two week work tasters that take place after students have finished their first year of sixth form (making them 16 or 17 years old). Your organisation would take one or more SMF students on an internship, usually over a week or two during the summer holidays or October half term.
You can host an SMF intern if your workplace is located in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Newcastle) or within roughly one hour’s commute of one of these cities.
To be on the SMF programmes, students have to have top academic grades and be actively interested in reaching a top profession. Therefore, they can ensure the student who undertakes work experience with you will be passionate about gaining a real insight into law and will have the potential to get into the legal profession in the future.
You can find out more on their website.
