Project SEARCH graduates celebrated at special event
Project SEARCH graduates celebrated at special event
A joint initiative between University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), Newfriars College and Sodexo celebrates student success for the sixth year in a row.
This month, six of the latest students graduated from the programme after completing a rotation of three placements at UHNM, with a number of the graduates gaining full time paid employment at the end.
The Project SEARCH programme at UHNM gives 18 to 24 year-olds with disabilities and learning difficulties the opportunity to work at Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford to gain vital experience to help with future employment prospects, independence and confidence.
The graduates worked in areas across UHNM including the hospital restaurant, housekeeping and with the patient experience team.
More than 60 people attended the graduation celebration on Friday 12 July including The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Councillor Lyn Sharpe who congratulated all the interns on completing their work placements. She said: “Well I have absolutely loved the graduation, how inspirational. It is so wonderful to see how these young adults are able to integrate into the workplace with the support of their colleagues and hospital. What a brilliant project.”
Dave Ruscoe, Deputy Director of Estates, Facilities and PFI at UHNM, said: “This collaborative project has now been running for six years and there has been so many successes throughout that time and it’s great we continue to celebrate this every year. Here at UHNM we gain fantastic employees from this programme who have the right attributes and skill sets that we strive for in our organisation.
“Project SEARCH is extremely valuable to UHNM and to be able watch the interns grow and develop skills and confidence is fantastic. I would also like to say a big thank you to all the amazing effort from everyone involved from Newfriars College to Sodexo, thanks to you year in year out the Project SEARCH programme drives success at UHNM.”
Three special awards were also presented amongst the celebrations, including Overcoming Adversity, the Inspiring Intern and Building Resilience.
Rob Millington, Head of Newfriars College, said: “What an amazing day celebrating this year’s cohort of students. Our interns have made us so proud this year, going on a journey from Newfriars College to employment and we couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Ever since the project was launched at UHNM, Project SEARCH has helped 25 young people with disabilities to find paid employment.
Stephanie Sale, Curriculum Lead for Project Search, said: “This partnership was created to challenge the stereotypes around employees with learning disabilities and autism, and to provide meaningful, paid employment for those who want to work. Less than 5 per cent of adults with learning disabilities and autism are in paid employment nationally, and we are proud to say that we are trailblazing with employment statistics regularly over 70 and 80 per cent.
“We have supported 25 young people with special educational needs and disabilities into paid employment, allowing them to be independent adults within the community. Our young people have great work ethics and make valuable, loyal employees. We are so proud of this partnership and the impact it has had on the interns and their families, and also the wider UHNM community. Long may it continue.”
Anna Powell was one of this year’s graduates who finished her placements in the PALS office. She reflected on her time on the project and said: “I would definitely recommend the project to other people as I am now more confident and I believe in myself more now. I have made some new friends and during my time on the project and it has helped me to see that being different is ok.”