Young interns celebrate Project SEARCH graduations in North Wales

A group of young people are celebrating after graduating from a 12-month internship and receiving their certificates at ceremonies across North Wales with their families.

Project SEARCH/Supported Internships helps adults and young education leavers with learning disabilities or autism to secure employment.

Nationally, the unemployment rate for adults with disabilities and/or autism is approximately 90 per cent; Project SEARCH/Supported Internships supports the development of skills and behaviours that support these young adults into meaningful paid employment.

It was launched in Flintshire for the first time this year and was joint hosted by Flintshire County Council, where the graduation was held in their Ty Dewi Sant offices in Ewloe this month, and was supported by the learning and disability charity, HFT.

Dyfed Edwards, Chair of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “I want to thank everyone who has supported Project SEARCH/Supported Internships from within the Health Board, local councils and other partners, as well as the parents/carers of our graduates who have been there and supported these young adults during their internships

“Most importantly I would like to thank our graduates, they have given us an opportunity to see the world as a better place, and help us focus on equality, equal opportunity and equity.

“Our Health Board is the biggest employer in Wales, and I want us to mirror the society we serve, so we’re not an organisation of the same 20,000 members of staff, but a diverse workforce who have different skills, ways of thinking and lived experiences to help us boost the way we work.”

Jordan gained experience in several departments within the Health Board over the last year, including in administration for The Laurels GP surgery in Flint, where he’s secured a bank position.

“Project Search has done so much for me over the past year since I joined, it has helped me to learn new skills in different departments and has really boosted my confidence around meeting new people, I would definitely recommend Project Search to others who are looking to get into employment, it has changed my life,” said Jordan.

West Integrated Health Community’s graduation was held in Coleg Llandrillo Menai – Llangefni, a partner for the Supported Internships project, which also received support from Agoriad Cyf. One intern Mair was also celebrating being hired as a Supported Shared Apprentice Health Care Assistant at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Mair said: “Being on the Supported Internships Programme has been very good because you gain more work skills such as communication, teamwork and confidence. You get a bit more independent by travelling on your own on public transport and get used to being in work and the changes. Everyone is like a big family supporting each other through highs and lows.”

The graduation in Central IHC was held at Coleg Llandrillo Menai – Rhos on Sea. Attending the celebration was intern Josh’s parents, who have praised the project following their son being hired as bank Porter at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

His parents said: “We have seen a huge change in him since he started working with the porters. He has gone from being extremely quiet and reluctant to join in conversations at home, to being very chatty and confident. He’s always happy to talk about his day, something he never did when he was school.

“In terms of his confidence, the change we have seen is remarkable. It’s wonderful to hear that he engages in conversations with staff and patients and is also beginning to initiate conversation too, again, something he’s always struggled with.”

In Wales, less than 5% of young adults with learning disabilities and/or autism will be in paid employment, whereas the Health Board has a success rate of 70% to date with jobs secured internally and externally.

Tracey Amos, Operational Lead on Project Search/Supported Internships for the Health Board, said: “I’m delighted that the Health Board has another incredible year supporting and learning from our interns.

“It’s really important that we work closely with young people who may need that extra support to join our workforce. It was lovely to meet our interns and their families at our graduation ceremonies; we can see how proud everyone is of them.

“I’d like to thank all of our partners who support Project SEARCH/Supported Internships, across north Wales, the programmes wouldn’t be such a great success without them.”