Meet some of our former research interns, who participated in the Anna Freud Centre's annual Researcher Internship Scheme. Read about their experience working at the Centre and their exciting future endeavours in the stories below. Find out more about the Researcher Internship Scheme.
Welaa
Research Intern, 2022
Have you achieved the goals you were hoping to during your internship?
I definitely think I have achieved most of my goals coming out of this internship. I was able to participate in many projects which helped me develop my research skills in more of a practical setting. I think I was able to build up my confidence in the work I was doing and I was challenged by things that I don’t often do, like presenting information to wider groups.
What is your main takeaway from the internship?
My main takeaway from this internship is probably a sense of direction for the career path I wanted. Before the internship I found it quite difficult to bridge the gap in experience between my degree and a career in research.
Would you recommend the internship to someone else?
Yes! It’s been such an amazing experience where you can contribute to meaningful work while learning as you go along. The people here are so passionate about what they do so finding out more about the range of projects running at the Centre was always an illuminating experience.
Was the learning and work pitched at the right level for you?
Yes, even if there was a learning curve with some work it never felt like I couldn’t ask someone for support or to clarify. The learning and work always varied, so I developed a lot of skills and learnt so much in a short space of time.
If you had to summarise this internship into a couple of sentences what would you say?
This internship is a great way to develop a range of skills, you have access to so many incredible people and resources providing you with a really well-rounded experience.
Any other comments or thoughts you want to share?
I’m really grateful to everyone I’ve met through this internship. It has been such a wonderful experience and I think that the people I met here have honestly been my favourite part of this experience.
What are you doing next in your career and or education?
I really want to continue this trajectory of research and now that I have experience in the field I want to work in I feel more confident to apply for those jobs with the skills I developed and the people I connected with.
Leah
Research Intern, 2022
Have you achieved the goals you were hoping to during your internship?
My goals for this internship were to expand on my research knowledge previously gained during my undergraduate degree in Psychology as well as further my experience of working on qualitative and quantitative research projects.
Over the past three months, I can honestly say I have achieved the goals I had hoped to during this internship. I have been able to provide support to a plethora of different research projects.
What is your main takeaway from the internship?
I have thoroughly enjoyed attending the learning sessions which have covered a diverse variety of topics.
Would you recommend the internship to someone else?
I would highly recommend the internship to others for several reasons. This internship provides you with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of research within mental health. I particularly liked and appreciated its personalised approach, as the projects and tasks assigned were in direct correlation with individual interests and preferences.
Finally, this internship operates with a flexible approach, enabling you to work remotely as well as choosing between full-time or part-time hours depending on your schedule. This shows that the internship was very accommodating and took into consideration other personal commitments.
If you had to summarise this internship into a couple of sentences what would you say?
This internship enables you to gain vital knowledge and skills that significantly contribute towards your personal and professional development. Your interests and career aspirations are at the forefront of this internship. You are provided with several opportunities to shadow different teams across the Centre as well as get involved in projects and tasks that align with your interests and career aspirations.
Any other comments or thoughts you want to share?
I would just like to say thank you! I am immensely grateful for this opportunity and hope to return as an employee at the Anna Freud Centre sometime in the future. As a Black woman who has continuously sought out research opportunities, words cannot express my gratitude for this internship.
What are you doing next in your career and or education?
I will be going on to work as an assistant psychologist, working with young people with autism spectrum disorder or learning disabilities. In the future, I would like to further the experience and knowledge gained from this internship by working as a full-time research assistant.
Anna
Research Intern, 2022
What is your main takeaway from the internship?
That applying research is very important to me, and that in future I want to work in an organisation that either does that itself, or has good connections to organisations that do. And that in any future work that I do, that should be the key focus, not an afterthought about dissemination.
That there do seem to be mentally healthy ways to work in the mental health sector and research!
Was the learning and work pitched at the right level for you?
Overall, the vast majority of things were pitched at the right level and I never felt over- or underwhelmed. Importantly, I think there were opportunities to explore interesting things more and so we could really tailor our experiences to things we wanted to learn more about and challenge at the right level.
If you had to summarise this internship into a couple of sentences what would you say?
It was a really supportive environment to get a wide range of different research experiences at a unique charity.
What are you doing next in your career and or education?
Completing my final year of my psychology undergraduate degree, and then hopefully going into research or clinical psychology!
Samra
Research Intern, 2022
What is your main takeaway from the internship?
Being a recent graduate with very little experience, this internship was a massive confidence boost. I didn’t know what to expect from a full-time ‘9-5’ role so I was very nervous going into it, but my biggest takeaway would be ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’ so take every opportunity that comes your way even if you feel underqualified. Everyone I worked with at the Centre has been so lovely and it made me realise that people genuinely do want to help you, so if you ever want any advice people are more than willing to talk to you!
Would you recommend the internship to someone else?
I definitely would recommend this internship. The main thing I would stress, especially to undergrad students, is how rare an opportunity like this is within the psychology field.
If you had to summarise this internship into a couple of sentences what would you say?
The internship is amazing in giving people experience that they otherwise would have had difficulty getting, especially due to its flexibility.
What are you doing next in your career and or education?
I want to pursue a master’s, however, I want to get sufficient work experience beforehand – so this is more of a long-term goal.
Oreoluwa
Research Intern, 2022
Have you achieved the goals you were hoping to during your internship?
I definitely achieved the goals I set. One of my main goals was to develop my research skills and knowledge, in any capacity. I learned that there are many different areas important to research such as communication and dissemination. How will the research we conduct be distributed and seen by wider populations? By people who aren’t familiar with research jargon or the process in general? I learned of the steps taken to make research more accessible which was something I hadn’t given much thought.
What is your main takeaway from the internship?
I had a few, but mainly to be more confident in my abilities. I believe I was extremely hard on myself during the internship – it is easy to compare yourself to others when working in a group of five other extremely talented and qualified interns and I tended to second guess myself and my abilities. However, after having chats with my line managers I was able to relax and be open to making a few mistakes and learning from them.
Another takeaway would be the importance of proper communication and building relationships. I noticed that the Anna Freud Centre is a large organisation with many different departments. However, there seems to be a close-knit working relationship among the departments. I feel this is an important aspect, especially when the charity is working diligently to support clients experiencing a range of difficulties. I appreciate how the Centre gives back to the community and makes a conscious effort to involve experts by experience, knowing that professionals do have some knowledge but people who experience mental illness first hand may have invaluable insight into what treatment methods are most effective.
Would you recommend the internship to someone else?
Yes of course, this internship is a unique opportunity to develop research skills in a safe and supportive environment, with extremely accomplished professionals who are more than willing to accommodate your learning and provide opportunities for you to excel and capitalise on your strengths.
Was the learning and work pitched at the right level for you?
The learning was pitched at the right level and at a good pace. It was definitely engaging, with many opportunities to ask questions and engage in activities that consolidate learning.
If you had to summarise this internship into a couple of sentences, what would you say?
The internship is an opportunity to develop your research skills and learn about the ways the charity provides clinical treatment to children and young people who experience mental illness. This is all evidenced by the opportunities to engage in a myriad of projects that aim to develop interventions that promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, as well as investigating the efficacy of interventions. Engaging in projects and learning sessions provides the opportunity to develop skills to conduct research at a high standard. It also provides the chance to learn different research methodologies and use various statistical software packages (both quantitative and qualitative). For me, this internship was an invaluable experience, where I not only learned but had the space to consolidate my learning practically.
Any other comments or thoughts you want to share?
I’m extremely grateful to everyone who took time out of their busy schedule to make the internship a worthwhile educational experience. I’d say I’ve learned overall to be confident in my abilities, take the time to learn as you go, to take the initiative (if you don’t ask, you don’t get!) and to make the most of my experience. Have regular catch ups with the interns, and supervisors, engage in the best way you can. Don’t try and overcompensate for any shortcomings you feel you may have, just be yourself, that’s why you got here in the first place!
What are you doing next in your career and or education?
I plan to find a research assistant or assistant psychologist role. I am very interested in both the clinical and research field and would love to marry the two together in any role I fulfilled. Long term, my goal is to get a PhD, or become a clinical psychologist.
Holly
Research Intern, 2022
Would I recommend this internship?
Yes! The Anna Freud Centre houses some of the kindest and most knowledgeable staff I've ever met. This internship is also for people who may have personal or physical struggles accessing or re-entering a workforce. I want more people who may feel nervous and doubt their worth to apply and know there is flexibility here to support you as you need to be supported.
I encourage you to apply and trust the interview process to determine your suitability (it's a pretty simple process). If you are hired, you can always open the door for the next person by highlighting the weird and beautiful ways we all might need to work differently together as a team, so that the project work is well delivered and supports the wellbeing of young people from every walk of life in the UK.
Shade
Research Intern, 2021
I learnt so much during my 3 months as a researcher intern; being part of a charity that values children, young people and families as well as their staff was influential. Everyone was so welcoming, willing to share their knowledge, experiences, provide training and give me valuable advice and support, which was like nothing I had experienced previously. Anna Freud Centre is a truly collaborative and inclusive working environment, which continues to strive for diversity throughout its working practices.
The researcher internship gave me an opportunity for growth, learning and development as a black woman, to get into the field of mental health research. I would recommend this internship to anyone, as it has been hugely instrumental in my journey towards my future goals. I feel lucky to have been able to continue my journey, becoming an Assistant Psychologist with the Schools and Colleges Early Support Service.
I hope this scheme goes on for many, many years to come and expands it reach to many more individuals who may face barriers or are underrepresented in the field of mental health research, as representation really is key.