In opening a special anniversary event held in celebration of the programmes 10th year, Richard Lochhead Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work said: ““The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that employment is accessible to disabled people and creating a fairer Scotland for all.

“We have reduced the disability employment gap to its lowest level since our 2016 baseline year, ensuring we are on course to meet the target of it being halved by 2038.

“It has been inspiring to hear the life changing stories from the graduates of the DFN Project SEARCH programme who are now in paid work across North and South Lanarkshire and enjoying the many benefits that employment brings.”

University Hospital Hairmyres and University Hospital Monklands landmark employment programme, which is a partnership between DFN Project SEARCH, New College Lanarkshire, NHS Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire Council, and South Lanarkshire Council will continue to run during this academic year and help young people across Lanarkshire with learning disabilities and/or autism undertake vital work-based learning opportunities, to help them to secure meaningful, paid employment.

During the virtual celebration, the Principal of New College Lanarkshire, Professor Christopher Moore said: “DFN Project Search has transformed the lives, expectations and hopes of all those who have been involved. It’s been our privilege to have seen so many of our students go on to achieve their full potential both in the workplace and in life.”

Moore added: “Their success is a result of the strong partnerships we’ve enjoyed with NHS Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council and ISS along with the support we’ve received from staff, families, friends and carers. But, most of all, the credit for the achievements of the past 10 years belongs to our students who trusted us to give them the learning experiences they deserved and who worked so diligently to succeed. “

Fewer than 5% of young adults with a learning disability and/or an autism in Scotland get into paid work, compared to 80% of young people nationally. DFN Project SEARCH’s mission is to overturn that imbalance, working in partnership across the public, private, and voluntary sectors to create supported employment internships that young people undertake during their last year of education.

Claire Cookson, CEO of DFN Project SEARCH said: “We are very proud to be celebrating 10 years of our programme across Lanarkshire NHS. Our programme, which is the biggest transition to work programme in Scotland, has a transformative effect on the interns who take part, with over 1,900 now employed across the UK and 60% of those interns achieving full-time permanent roles. Ultimately, we’re striving to enable an untapped talent pool of young people who can make a huge contribution to the employment market in Scotland.”

Eddie Docherty, Executive Nurse Director at NHS Lanarkshire, said: “I am delighted that NHS Lanarkshire has been able to support this brilliant project at University Hospital Monklands and University Hospital Hairmyres for the last 10 years and at University Hospital Wishaw for over 12 years.”

Des Murray, Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council said: “It is a privilege as Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council to be invited to participate in this fantastic anniversary. The partners involved have been remarkable in their commitment to transforming the lives of so many of our young people.  We have all benefitted from the process.  The young people, their families and loved ones and the employers and partners who engaged in nurturing, supporting and developing the incredible talents and individuals that Project Search has shown a spotlight upon.  May it continue to go from strength to strength transforming lives and ensuring all are valued equally.”

Cleland Sneddon, Chief Executive at South Lanarkshire Council said: “Over the past 10 years DFN Project SEARCH has provided fantastic opportunities for our interns, achieving remarkable results with many participants entering and sustaining paid employment. With excellent partnership working between South Lanarkshire Council, NHS Lanarkshire, ISS Facilities and New College Lanarkshire, this project has created meaningful work experience for young adults with additional support needs in South Lanarkshire. Our interns have been submerged into a real working environment, gaining on-the-job skills which have enabled them to follow and achieve their dreams. I am extremely proud to represent this group and I’m sure we’ll see many more successes in the future”.

The celebration of 10 Years of DFN Project SEARCH within University Hospital Hairmyres and University Hospital Monklands took place virtually on the 2nd December 2022.