This week we are delighted to welcome a new member to the CSIE team as Sophie Shanahan begins her summer internship with us!

Sophie has just finished her degree in Modern Languages at the University of Bristol and is joining us as part of the University’s Small and Medium Enterprises programme. This scheme was set up during the COVID-19 pandemic to fund internships for undergraduate students at organisations such as CSIE.

The internship will cover a broad range of tasks to assist the team, and offer our intern a valuable glimpse into working in the charity sector. Sophie has already been getting to grips with the organisation’s vision and current projects, and is enthusiastic to support CSIE across the next two months.

Sophie speaks of her personal enthusiasm for inclusive education, having worked in the voluntary sector alongside her studies in Bristol to campaign for a more accessible education system. Sophie’s experience in the voluntary sector has shaped her vision of inclusion, committing her to the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to thrive within the education system, and not be bound by any particular characteristics or circumstances. She is looking forward to a career in the charity sector post-graduation, and is sure that the experience of working at CSIE will further deepen her commitment to the causes of equality and inclusion.

We are excited to start working with Sophie, and extend our gratitude both to her, for choosing to support our work, and to the University of Bristol, for enabling this internship. We are also looking forward to welcoming two more interns later in June, who will focus on completing the online equality hub project.