Change 100 top tips

1. Do your homework

Look at our student brochure to find out exactly what the Change 100 programme offers and what attributes we are looking for in candidates. 

You can also join one of our webinars to learn more about the programme. We publish our webinar dates on our website. You can also watch our videos Introduction to Change 100 and how to write a great Change 100 application. 

2. Make it personal

We would like to know what skills and strengths you would bring to your internship and future career. Furthermore, think about what you are hoping to gain from the internship and the Change 100 programme overall. 

Tailor your answers to your skills and your professional and personal aspirations, rather than using generic answers. 

3. Use a range of experiences 

The application form includes five questions. Use a range of examples to answer the questions. Think about what your skills and strengths are, how you have showed or developed them. How can you bring them to the programme?  

You can use examples from your studies, volunteering, personal life or your disability or long-term condition. You can include your professional experience, but don’t worry if you don’t have any – some of the best applications don’t. 

4. Use the word count.

We think around 200 words per answer in the written application or two minutes if you’re submitting your application via video is about the right amount for us to get a good understanding of what you would bring to the programme. It will help you to provide a good amount of detail without being too wordy.  

We will ask you about your skills and strengths, how have you showed or developed them and how have you approached challenges. You will also be asked how you would use them on the Change 100 programme.  Each question is equally important. Depth is better than breadth. We’d prefer to see you explain one in detail, rather than listing several examples.  

5. Get someone to check your application

Your application should reflect who you are. Ask someone for feedback on your application. You could book an appointment with your University Careers Services.  

Ask them questions like: Would they say it sounds like you? Are you being too modest? Is the level of detail good? Are your answers relevant to the questions? They can also check your spelling, punctuation and grammar. 

6. Technical bits

The application form has the following sections:

• Contact details
• Personal details
• Application details
• Education  
• Five application questions

The application question page doesn’t save automatically. If you are worried about losing your work, you can type out your answers elsewhere and then paste them in.

Think about what is best for you. We accept video applications and other alternative formats. You can register with our application portal to access the application form, or email us for the application questions in Word.  

You can then either:

• Complete your contact and personal details, application details and education section in Word and your answers to 5 application questions by audio or video.

OR

• Complete your full application in audio or video format.

Please send your application to change100applications@leonardcheshire.org as an attachment, via WeTransfer  or as a YouTube link.

7. What happens next?

The application deadline is 30 November 2023.

If your application is successful, we will first invite you to a virtual conversation with one of the Change 100 team members in December or January, where we will discuss what you can bring to the programme and what you would like to gain from it.  

Based on your application and the initial conversation with us, we will create your profile and share it with an employer who may have a suitable role for you. If the employer feels their role could be a good match for you, they will invite you for an interview.  

If you or the employer decide not to proceed with the match, we will approach another employer with your profile. The interviews and the matching process will run between February and June.

We will support you in all stages of the recruitment process and once the internship is agreed. Ensuring that the recruitment is accessible and inclusive for our candidates is very important for us. We will ask you what adjustments you require and train the employers to run their interviews in an accessible and inclusive way.  

If you have any questions, email us on change100applications@leonardcheshire.org or call us on 020 3242 0299.