Helen speaks in front of hundreds of people

3 March 2023

Helen, one of our Apprentices at Lily&Lime was invited to take the stage at the Portsmouth Guildhall, as part of a “Disability Confident” section, to talk about her pathway into employment in front of 400 people, representing 75 businesses and education organisations in the Portsmouth area.

Joining a panel of past and present SEN Learners, Helen spoke about the skills she learnt on her Supported Internship, and her new role as a paid member of the Lily&Lime Team.

Helen said: “It was a great experience for me, as I have never spoken in front of so many people. I was intrigued by the idea of public speaking and I always like to give things a go. I wanted to prove that people with disabilities can go on and do great things and show that they have the same skills as everyone else. Everyone is different and we should celebrate that!”

Chris Hillman, who was leading the section, said “Helen was a great ambassador for Lily and Lime, and Minstead Trust. This is the second year in a row that our employability learners have taken to the stage to showcase the benefits of a diverse workforce. Sophie and the Lily and Lime team did a great job helping Helen practice and introducing her to potential future employers on the day”