Project SEARCH graduates have every reason to be proud

Parents, relatives, colleagues and friends watched on with enormous pride as nine equally proud interns, graduated last week from Project SEARCH Derriford, following nine months of intensive work-based training, gaining Diplomas in Progression.

Project SEARCH is a partnership between Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Pluss, Serco and City College Plymouth who work together to create employment opportunities for young adults living in Plymouth who have learning disabilities.

The interns, all of whom have learning disabilities, have been working in Derriford Hospital on honorary contracts, whilst developing and learning new work skills.

With these nine interns graduating from the most recent cohort, this now brings the overall number of interns to have graduated from the initiative to more than 60 in the last seven years. In addition to this, four of this year’s graduates have secured employment.

At last Tuesday’s ceremony, held at the Derriford Centre for Health and Wellbeing, the students and their guests heard about the various internships the interns had undertaken, their experiences and the skills and confidence they had acquired from their time working within the hospital.

Describing her time at Project SEARCH, graduate intern, Georgina Clements, who has worked within the laboratories in the hospital, said: “Project SEARCH has given me the experience of working in environments that I wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.

“It’s given me confidence and shown me I can do more than I thought I could do.”

This sentiment was shared by Megan Candy, who said: “The feedback I got was all very positive and made me realise I can do this.”

Fellow intern, Ben Liversidge, who is already in paid employment with Serco at the Trust and is currently saving up for a house and a new car, stated: “Project SEARCH has helped me get my first job, I had almost given up hope of getting one. Now I am saving to buy a house and a new car. I couldn’t have done it without their support.”

The other interns also spoke extremely highly of their time at the project and the experience they had gained. Victoria Tonkiss described her time as a ‘dream come true’, Andrew Perkin feels he is more confident and it has got him ‘out of his shell’ and Matthew Pollard believes Project SEARCH has made him ‘more mature and a better person’.

Steven Keith, Director of People for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, presented the certificates at the ceremony. Addressing the room, Steven said: “As a Trust we are delighted to support and host Project SEARCH. Our involvement in this life-changing initiative gives interns experience of working alongside substantive staff, in real jobs, delivering some crucial support services. It also gives our staff the experience of supporting young people with some of their challenges.

“There are four words I would use to describe the interns, they are: pride, passion, skills and confidence.

“All the interns clearly demonstrate pride and passion for the work they have been undertaking in the hospital, and we have heard a number of examples of how their confidence and skills have grown hugely as a result of being part of this scheme.”

The interns are well supported as they now look for paid employment, something that is important to all of them.

“I’m ready now to get a paid job,” said Laura Cooke. “I’ve just got to find one.”

The Project has an enviable success rate with 72% of interns from the first six years achieving competitive paid employment.

“Having paid work means it finally feels like I can stand on my own two feet and I don’t have to rely on others,” explains Kristian Euinton. “I can pay my own way and not have to rely on benefits. Project SEARCH has changed my life for the better.”

Project SEARCH supports young adults, between 18 and 24, living in Plymouth with Learning Disabilities by providing a Level 1 academic course running alongside three internships within Derriford Hospital.

It is a partnership that provides real work experience based in Derriford Hospital Plymouth, where interns learn the skills that all employers need together with specific skills for individual jobs.

Pictured: Graduates (from the back) Kristian Euinton, Megan Candy, James Palmer, Matthew Pollard, Victoria Tonkiss, Georgina Clements, Andrew Perkin, Ben Liversidge, Laura Cooke