Internships
Working in close partnership with the University of Birmingham
We are delighted to be able to host a number of talented and enthusiastic interns at PANS PANDAS UK each year. With students coming from across the academic disciplines, we offer 10- and 20-day placements to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
All our internships provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable experience of working in the charity sector, whilst developing skills in a friendly and supportive environment.
Some areas of work previous interns have contributed to:
- Content and Communications
- Education
- Marketing, Fundraising and Social Media
Laila Waraich, Editorial Assistant intern, 2023
“Hello, I’m Laila. I’m a fourth year Human Neuroscience student at the University of Birmingham and an Editorial Assistant intern at PANS PANDAS UK focusing on science communication. I saw the internship advertised through the university’s careers portal and I was immediately intrigued. It’s not often that I come across roles with a direct application to my degree subject as well as some of my prior experience in content production. I did some reading on the PANS PANDAS UK website and found myself shocked at the lack of awareness around PANS and PANDAS as well as inspired by the real-life stories of families living with the conditions. As a result, I decided to apply, and I was delighted to be successful. The team is small and incredibly friendly which has made getting started really easy. I’m excited to help further the mission of PANS PANDAS UK and gain some valuable experience in science communication!“
Ceridwen Clark, Editorial Assistant intern, 2023
I am a recent Sociology graduate from the University of Birmingham. My academic interests include sustainable social development and the prevention of social harm. I applied for the internship with PANS PANDAS UK because I wanted to gain more experience in an editorial role while working in the non-profit sector.
Interning with PANS PANDAS UK has given me an exciting opportunity to further develop my critical communication skills while learning more about an important cause. As an intern I am developing professionally and personally and appreciate working alongside others who share the same values of education, the removal of stigma, and a community focus.
Molly Swingler, Editorial Assistant intern, 2022
‘My name is Molly and I study History at the University of Birmingham. PANS PANDAS UK offered a variety of different projects and let me take some creative direction. I was able to follow the projects I found most interesting and ended up making social media and website content – both text-based and visual. The whole team are wonderful and super welcoming, you couldn’t work with better people.’
Georgia Quirke, Editorial Assistant intern, 2022
‘Interning at PANS PANDAS UK has been an invaluable experience. Working with a small charity allows you to make a meaningful impact, whilst also being part of a close-knit, friendly team. As an editorial intern, I have been able to gain extensive hands-on experience which has been great for my CV. The team were also always open to hear what skills I wanted to develop, allowing me to work on projects that I can now confidently bring up in future interviews. The genuine friendliness and unwavering support from the entire team was what made this internship so enjoyable. Without a doubt, I would encourage any student to intern here!’
Daniel Hindle, Editorial Assistant intern 2023
Hello, I’m Daniel.
I am a second year History student at the University of Birmingham. I applied for the internship with PANS PANDAS UK because it represented a great opportunity to gain valuable experience in an editorial role whilst working for the only UK charity that supports individuals and families living with PANS and PANDAS. The team has been extremely friendly, and I am excited to contribute to PANS PANDAS UK’s mission of providing support and information to those affected by PANS and PANDAS.
Having grown up with an older brother who has autism and learning difficulties, it is a privilege to gain experience in researching, producing and editing material for a charity that supports children and families who need help with recognition of diagnosis and access to support, just as my brother did with his condition.
James Pang, Editorial Assistant intern, 2023
Hi, I’m James
I’m a final year Philosophy student at the University of Birmingham. I decided to undertake this internship with PANS PANDAS UK after a module in the Philosophy of Mental Health sparked my interest in mental well-being along with other neurological conditions. In this internship, I will be focusing on various aspects of the condition, but at the moment I’m looking at making some resources for friends and family of those who are affected by PANS or PANDAS. I noticed that there is a lot of really good information out there about what PANS and PANDAS is and what it’s like to live with the condition, but not a lot of information on how to be supportive of those people on a day-to-day basis. The small team have been very friendly and I’m looking forward to making a positive difference to those living with PANS and PANDAS.
Volunteer at PANS PANDAS UK
As a small charity, we are incredibly grateful to all our interns and volunteers for their time and dedication to helping us build better futures for all those affected by PANS and PANDAS.
Currently, our internship placements are organised through the University of Birmingham, however, we are always happy to hear from anyone who is interested in volunteering. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in volunteering with us, please click the button below.
