DFN Project SEARCH, a leading transition to employment charity for young people with learning disability and autism, is celebrating its success stories over the last 12 months at its Spotlight Awards ceremony.
DFN Project SEARCH interns, graduates and partners from across the UK have been recognised at the Spotlight Awards for outstanding achievements whilst providing continuity and employment pathways for young interns throughout the Pandemic.
The Spotlight Awards help shine a light on the contributions made throughout the pandemic by all those involved in its transition to employment programmes across the country and also the transformative impact DFN Project SEARCH programmes are having on young people with learning disabilities and autism.
DFN Project SEARCH also recognised the fantastic impact of young people securing frontline roles during the crisis.
The award celebrations took place Friday (July 16th) with over 80 guests attending the virtual event to celebrate and recognise the achievements of all the people involved in different areas of the charity.
Eight awards were presented at the ceremony to outstanding individuals and DFN Project SEARCH teams based throughout the country.
The ‘Spotlight’ award categories helped to celebrate the success of interns and recent graduates who have successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic, DFN Project SEARCH partners who have made a positive and long-lasting impact on the young people and communities, as well as the innovation of programme sites up and down the country, which is helping to support even more young people with learning disabilities and autism secure meaningful jobs.
Over 1,480 young people have now graduated and secured full-time paid employment through DFN Project SEARCH programmes in the UK.
DFN Project SEARCH is a transition to work programme for students with learning disabilities and autism with ambitions to get 10,000 young adults with learning difficulties and autism into full-time paid jobs over the next decade.
The pioneering programme is total workplace immersion at its very best, facilitating a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on skills training.
Claire Cookson, CEO of DFN Project SEARCH said: “The past 12 months have been truly transformational as we have responded to the pandemic but our interns and recent graduates, programme sites, and partners have undoubtedly risen to the challenge.
“Although our annual awards ceremony has once again been very different as we continue to emerge from the pandemic, it hasn’t stopped us from celebrating the amazing achievements of our inspiring interns, graduates and incredible partners – and together we are helping change the lives of young people with learning disabilities and autism through supporting them to find meaningful jobs.
“Huge congratulations to all the winners, we’ve seen some fantastic achievements for another year running, which is a testament to everyone involved in the DFN Project SEARCH programmes across the country. Together we are transforming lives for many young people with learning disabilities and autism, helping them to be recognised as a fantastic talent for employers.”
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 through 70 supported internships schemes across the UK, and the charity is succeeding even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Latest data from DFN Project SEARCH shows that in the past 12 months, 141 interns secured full-time well-paid work. DFN Project SEARCH interns secured these roles when the country was in full lockdown with many of the roles classified as key workers.