Graduates search and secure jobs

Excited youngsters have successfully graduated from a programme aimed at securing employment.

East Ayrshire’s Project SEARCH interns have graduated after 36 weeks of practical work experience in University Hospital Crosshouse.

Project SEARCH is an employability programme that helps 17– 29 year olds with learning disabilities and/ or who are on the autistic spectrum build skills for competitive employment.

This year, nine interns embarked on the 800- hour placement, and gained practical experience in a number of areas of the hospital including portering, medical records, stores, waste management and the mailroom.

Each student worked for a total of ten weeks in each area.

Lois Robertson from Cumnock completed rotations in medical records and portering.

She said: “Project SEARCH did a lot for me.

“It raised my confidence to apply for jobs and made me believe in myself.

“As a person with dyspraxia, I struggled, but with Project SEARCH I have got a permanent job.”

At their graduation ceremony on Friday, June 8 each intern received a certificate of completion and a gift voucher, kindly donated by Ayrshire College.

Pictured is; L- R; Graeme Daly ( Galston), John Duncan ( Auchinleck), Andrew Caldwell ( Kilmarnock), Kieran Lennon ( Kilmarnock), Iona Nimmo ( Kilmaurs), Lois Robertson ( Cumnock), Amy McMillan ( Kilmarnock), Cameron Todd ( Newmilns). Missing from the picture is Iain Holmes ( Galston).