14 June 2019

The Project SEARCH program has gone from strength to strength since its launch in the Borders in 2016. This week marked the completion of the program for our third intake of interns. To celebrate the occasion a graduation ceremony was held on Tuesday 12th June in the Chaplaincy Centre at the Borders General Hospital.

During the course of the one year program, eight interns completed work experience rotations in various settings in the Borders General Hospital and Community Hospitals including Laundry, General Services and Radiology. Through this internship our interns have acquired competitive, transferable and marketable job skills as well as gained independence, confidence, and self-esteem.

During the ceremony the interns did something a little different and chose to give certificates and thanks to their mentors in recognition of the support and encouragement they gave during rotations. Collectively the interns said: "We have enjoyed being interns and meeting new friends, and meeting all the Project SEARCH staff. We feel we have improved our skills for the future. We have had different mentors in our rotations and they were really helpful if we needed to ask anything."

The interns also said they felt their mentors had been good at listening and explaining things and in addition described them as being; "Encouraging, caring, helpful, enthusiastic, friendly, good fun, happy, trustworthy and understanding."

Rob McCulloch-Graham, Chief Officer Health and Social Care, said: "A big congratulations must go to our interns who have successfully completed their internships. We have thoroughly enjoyed having them work with us and I am thrilled that they have equally enjoyed their experience with us.

"Young people with a learning disability face many barriers to employment and Project Search has been highly successful in being able to deliver opportunities throughout Scotland. It is fantastic that we are able to offer a series of good quality internships to young Borderers."

For more information about Project SEARCH visit: https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org  
Alternatively, contact Joan Cairney at Borders College on 01896 662519.