A PARLIAMENTARY intern who was made homeless at 15 is urging other young people to apply for his placement after it transformed his career.

John Morris has been working as an intern for MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting since October last year, after being accepted onto the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placement Scheme (SPPS).

The initiative gives 10 young people the chance to work as an MP’s assistant for nine months, while cracking down on the culture of unpaid internships.

Despite getting into university, John’s upbringing was not easy, having been made to live without any parents or guardians from the age of 15.

He said: “My life growing up wasn’t straightforward.

“I had a tough time with my family and being made homeless at such a young age was a real struggle.”

After doing work placements everywhere from McDonalds to The Guardian and still not getting anywhere, John was almost ready to give up on a graduate career before he heard about the scheme.

He added: “I never thought I’d get the opportunity to work in Parliament and can’t speak highly enough about the scheme.

“It has given me such an unexpected and incredible insight into politics.

“I’ve learned so much working for Wes and it will definitely help to improve my career prospects.”

Started up by Labour MP for Barnsley Central Dan Jarvis and endorsed by Commons speaker John Bercow, SPPS offers the London Living Wage as well as a personal career coach to help out with future career prospects.

Mr Streeting, who also faced challenges growing up in a single parent family on an east London council estate, wants his constituents in Woodford and Ilford North to consider applying to the scheme.

He said: “As someone who also comes from a working class background too often under-represented in Parliament, it has been a real privilege to host John in my office for the last few months.

“The Speaker’s Scheme aims to open up parliament to people who are not normally represented here.

“I’d strongly encourage young people from Ilford North to apply – it’s a great opportunity.”

Applications for SPPS for this year are open until midday on June 17. The scheme starts on September 19.

For more information on how to apply, see the website.

http://www.thecreativesociety.co.uk/projects/speakers-internship-scheme/