In 2015 Alfie started a weekly work experience placement with corporate restructuring firm Alix Partners where he worked with the Facilities team to carry out tasks such as measuring office temperatures, replenishing office stock and setting up meeting rooms for clients.

The placement was set up by the Down Syndrome Association’s WorkFit programme, and overseen in partnership with Highshore. Alfie continued to progress in his role throughout his time at Highshore and became a real asset to the Alix Partner team. In 2016 he got the opportunity to appear on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show where he talked about his work.

Andrew Constable-Alix Partners:

The most rewarding part is seeing how Alfie has matured as a person and grown in both confidence and ability. Alfie started in the office needing direction and to be shadowed during his tasks. Today, he is totally comfortable completing his work unaided.

We have seen him become a valuable member of the team that adds value to our Firm with not only his presence but also the work he completes.

He is the envy of his friends at college and I love how proud he is to work with us at AlixPartners. The office wouldn’t be the same without him!

In October 2016, Josiah started a work experience placement in the catering kitchens at Just Hospitality, Bermondsey. He travelled and worked fully independently at the placement and quickly became part of the team.

As his time at Highshore was coming to an end Josiah had decided that he would like to pursue  a college course in Catering at Lewisham College which he had mention to the Just Hospitality team. Managing director of Just Hospitality, Dean Kennett, had recognised Josiah’s skills and enthusiasm which lead to Josiah being offered a paid day of work while he studied at college

Dean Kennett – Managing Director Just Hospitality:

Earlier this year, I was chatting with Josiah about his plans at end of school term. He has been with us one day a week doing work experience for the past two years and has progressed really well. He said he enjoyed being in the kitchen so much that he has decided to enroll in cooking school. With our current expansion plans we were looking out for some extra help in the kitchen as well and that’s when I decided to offer Josiah a paid part time role in the kitchen.

He started this morning and here he is, making us lunch on his first day. I couldn’t have been more proud. To see my vision for this association with Highshore turning into reality is simply incredible. 

Kallim now has a Saturday job at Café 67 after his involvement with the South London Gallery whilst he attended Highshore School.

Kallim first became involved in the gallery through a school visit to an exhibition by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard in March 2011. Taking part in a workshop at the gallery, he made some work performing directly to camera – showing off a streak for performing that has continued in his projects with Art Assassins. The exhibition inspired him to make his own film work back in school, for which he gained a Bronze Arts Award.

Following on from this, in autumn 2013 he came for work experience at the gallery. He worked on the schools’ programme, with groups of school children as well as working with a number of different staff members. He took part in gallery meetings and over this time became a familiar face in the gallery, well-liked by all. By the end of his work experience, it was suggested that he could somehow become the gallery mascot!

As his work experience came to an end, he was invited to join the Art Assassins youth forum at the SLG. The group of young people aged 13-21 meet every Thursday evening at the gallery and produce their own projects and exhibition. Over the past year, Kallim has become a valued member of the group, taking part in a number of projects and making good friends. In spring 2014, the group produced their own video game which they launched at an event called Arcade Peckham. Kallim devised his own character to feature in the game. In the summer of 2014, he was involved in the Art Assassins Listening Party, launching the Art Assassins audio recordings produced as tape. Kallim took the mic, speaking confidently to the invited audience about the tape that they’d made. He independently recruited audience members from around the gallery to come in to see their work – drawing in lots of people.