First graduates complete life-changing supported internship
A new life-changing supported internship programme for young adults with learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum conditions, has celebrated its first graduates.
The graduation ceremony was held for the first 11 graduates of the new programme which launched with Newcastle City Learning, supported by Northumbria University in September 2023.
Newcastle City Learning, run by Newcastle City Council, teamed up with Northumbria University, Sodexo and national charity DFN Project SEARCH to form a collaborative partnership to give young people with learning disabilities and/or autism vital work-based learning opportunities, to help them to secure competitive employment. The pioneering programme involves total workplace immersion at its very best, facilitating a combination of classroom tutoring, career experience, and hands-on skills training.
Cllr Alex Hay, Cabinet Member for a Thriving City, Newcastle City Council said: “It is great to see our first members of this programme complete their graduation. This partnership is improving the opportunities for young people to gain valuable work-based learning and secure paid employment. We are committed to providing these new initiatives to ensure all the city’s young people can access the support they need to secure the most positive future.”
The partnership is the first of its kind in the region and gives students supported work placements via a variety of Northumbria University’s different business areas, and its Sodexo-managed student accommodation, and is facilitated by Newcastle City Learning.
One of the parents, Nicky Kirton said: “My son Michael has been doing the internship for the past year and it’s been outstanding. I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done, the support they have given him, how far he’s came. He’s socialising, he’s having conversations at home, he’s made so much progress and I’m so grateful.”
This local programme comes as part of the DFN Project SEARCH employability campaign #InclusionRevolution, which aims to support 10,000 young adults aged between 18 – 25 with a learning disability or autism into paid employment by 2030.
The initiative highlights the shocking reality that only 5% of people with learning disabilities in England secure paid employment, compared to 80% of their peers. That means an astonishing 95% will be forced to live a lifetime on benefits.
DFN Project SEARCH is a national transition to work programme for students with learning disabilities and, or autism spectrum conditions, or both. They work in partnership across the public, private and voluntary sectors to create supported employment internships within private and public settings that these young people undertake during their last year of education, helping them to make positive transitions from education to the world of work.
With the largest data set in the UK, DFN Project SEARCH’s evidence-based model challenges misconceptions and changes the way society views and enables young adults with learning disabilities and autism to ensure that they reach their true and full potential.
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.
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