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A training partnership is leading the UK in creating job opportunities for young people with learning disabilities.
DFN Project Search is working with West Lothian Council and West Lothian College to transform the employment prospects of young people with learning disabilities and autism, with 100 per cent of recent graduates moving into full-time employment.
The West Lothian programme was established in 2016, providing interns with a nine-month transition to work programme in their final year of school or college.
In its first year eight interns graduated and went into full-time employment.
The next intake of six students have also secured full-time jobs.
Their job roles include sales assistants, a customer service advisor and a bank cashier.
Livingston electroinics company Jabil was the scheme’s original host employer before is closed in 2017.
Toy R Us agreed to take over in September 2017 but the company went into administration only three months later.
A number of other businesses stepped in to provide support, including Sainsburys, B&M, Our Power and Royal Mail.
Next year’s intake will be based at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.
DFN Project Search has 67 local partnerships across the UK and another 12 are planned by the end of 2019.
CEO Maura Lynch said: “We are extremely proud that our partnership in West Lothian is the best performing across all of our UK sites.
“The outstanding performance of the programme reflects a true commitment to our vision of ensuring that everyone with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition can attain high-quality employment in their local area.
“It’s also important to recognise the support we have received from the local business community which is now experiencing the transformative benefits from engaging in our programme, gaining access to a new, diverse, talented workforce with skills that match labour needs.”
She added: “With St John’s Hospital now secured as our host organisation, the collaboration continues to go from strength to strength and we will continue to work closely with all of our project partners to ensure that young people in the area with autism or a learning disability are given the opportunity to get a good job.”
Amy Rae, team manager at West Lothian Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted for all the staff whose dedication, determination and enthusiasm have led to this fantastic achievement.
“Most importantly it means that all our interns achieved paid employment, which is truly life-changing for them and
their families, and illustrates just how capable and valued young people with autism and or a learning disability are to our workforce.
“We are particularly proud of the West Lothian partnership, with all partners working towards one goal: the inclusion of our graduates into society.”
