A new life-changing transition to employment programme for young people with learning disabilities and autism has just launched in Hull and East Riding.
Hull City Council is a part of a partnership, along with the City Health Care Partnership CIC (CHCP), Wilberforce Sixth Form College, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, involved in this pioneering project.
The DFN Project SEARCH aims to get 10,000 UK young adults with learning disabilities and autism into full-time paid jobs over the next decade.
In Hull, seven interns aged between 17 and 24 will be learning competitive and transferable skills in a variety of roles at CHCP. The learners will receive an employability curriculum each day to develop their work-based skills.
Councillor Shane McMurray, Hull City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services said: “It’s very important that everyone should be able to have equal access when it comes to the workplace, and I’m thrilled that Hull City Council can work with the DFN Project SEARCH programme to help support people with learning disabilities and autism in our community.
“I wish all of our interns the very best of luck on their programme and I look forward to seeing their careers flourish.”
DFN Project SEARCH CEO Claire Cookson said: “We are very proud to be launching our programme here in Hull with NHS City Health Care Partnership and our other amazing new partners.
“We can’t wait to see the fantastic work the first interns will be doing here, and have the opportunity to demonstrate how young people with autism and learning disabilities, when given the right support, can truly thrive and make a huge contribution to society.”
DFN Project SEARCH works to build a more inclusive society by helping to create much improved career opportunities for those with learning disabilities and autism through supported internships schemes across the UK.
