A third group of young people with additional support needs in the Falkirk area who are on the hunt to find a job with the help of DFN Project SEARCH – have graduated from their one year internship programme.
The DFN Charitable Foundation, is a UK registered charity established in 2014 by David Forbes Nixon, with the express aim of promoting programmes such as this partnership between Forth Valley College, Falkirk Council Employment and Training Unit, Serco, NHS Forth Valley and Skills Development Scotland – DFN Project SEARCH supports young people with learning difficulties to gain skills and experience aimed at helping them move into sustainable employment.
At an event held in Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus on Thursday 11 November, Sarah McCulley Service Manager, Falkirk Council - Employment and Training Unit welcomed the guests at the ceremony, Tony McLaughlin Regional Contract Director at Serco presented the certificates and Jacqueline McArthur FVC’s Director of Curriculum in the Department of Business and Communities provided the Vote of Thanks.
Based at Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus, between August 2020 and June 2021, a total of eight have graduated from the award winning Project SEARCH initiative that has been recognised for its outstanding programme outcomes, supporting young adults with learning disabilities into the world of work.
The eight well deserving graduates for 2021 were Bryony Spink, Dylan Neill, Emily Bellingham, Hugh Carter, Joshua Hoskin-Winman, Rachel Verhees, Shannon Hannah, and Steven Stone.
The first two groups of young interns aged between 18-24 - from 2018 and 2019 - were based at Forth Valley Royal Hospital. However, the pandemic lockdown, prompted a change to where the interns would be based. Placements throughout the College have seen interns work with the Estates Department, in college administration and the Construction Department.
The interns have also completed a selection of industry standard certificates. On-site, interns were assisted throughout by a college lecturer and a job coach – Alan Ritchie and Jean Allan - as well as Serco staff, with Falkirk Council Employment and Training Unit supporting the group after their time at Forth Valley College.
The programme helps interns to learn real job skills that will prepare them for work by rotating them through a variety of different work placement experiences. This, practical, work-based learning is supported by classroom activities each day, as well as regular discussion and feedback from supervisors throughout the programme.
Graduate Emily Bellingham, said: “Jean and Alan from Project SEARCH were fantastic as my lecturer and job coach. They always made sure I was getting on ok and really helped me to find a job that was right for me at the end of the programme.”
Graduate Dylan Neill, added: “Working with Jean and Alan on DFN Project SEARCH, has been a pleasure. The things I learned, practised, mastered and put into more practise have been very helpful in finding out what I’m good at, but I also learned things about myself I never knew prior to attending the program. Working with them and coming on to the program, then getting a job, has been a great way to finish my time at Forth Valley College."
Jacqueline McArthur, Director of Curriculum for the Department of Business and Communities, said: “We are delighted to see this third cohort of Project SEARCH interns complete their year at Forth Valley College and graduate from the programme into paid sustainable jobs. They have been a credit to themselves, the college, and all the partners who are represented in this programme, and we wish them well as they progress into employment armed with skills and experience gained from Project SEARCH.
“And that’s what Project SEARCH is all about – making a positive impact on young people’s lives and helping them achieve their full potential to express themselves in a work based setting. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the success of Project SEARCH and for driving it forward – especially Alan Ritchie and Jean Allan from Forth Valley College and all our wonderful partners.”
Anyone wishing to find out more on the course which will start again in August 2022 should contact FVC on 01324 403000.
