Council to help support young people into work

By Amanda Wilkins - 20 January 2025

CommunityBusinessCollege & Higher Education

Swindon Borough Council will be hosting a programme that aims to help young people with learning difficulties and autism into work.

DfN Project Search will start in September and will be the third year the council have run the programme, which offers a one-year transition-to-work programme for young people with learning disabilities and autism.  

The project enables individuals aged 18 to 24 to gain valuable experience, develop essential work skills, and increase their chance of securing employment in the future by providing real-world work experience and training, enabling them to achieve their future aspirations.

Two of this year’s interns, Fin and Jake, recently took up a placement at EW Timber & Fencing supplies and have begun making bespoke gates.

A spokesperson for DfN Project Search said: “Everyone deserves the right to aspire to the very best future, yet only 4.8% of people in England (and 4.1% of people in Scotland) with a learning disability who are known to local authorities go on to secure paid employment, compared to 80% of their peers.

“We don’t think this is right and neither do the people we support and work alongside.

“At DFN Project SEARCH we work hard to challenge and change cultures, demonstrating how young people with a learning disability can enrich the workforce, bring incredible skills and talent, encourage greater diversity and meet a real business need.”

An information evening will be taking place on Tuesday, 28 January, between 4.30pm and 7pm, at New College Swindon, North Star Campus, to find out more about how the programme works.

Register your attendance online and visit DFN Project Search to find out more.

 

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