Students celebrate Project SEARCH graduation
Eight students from the Project SEARCH programme have graduated at a special ceremony held at Culzean Castle.
Project SEARCH is an employability programme for 17 to 29 year olds who have learning disabilities, including those on the autistic spectrum, who are looking to gain employment.
Alex Walker, Andrew Kane, Caitlin Ireland, Chris Gourlay, Gabriel Johnson, Kieran Scott, Miranda McKay and Ryan McMaster, all celebrated their successful completion of the programme.
The South Ayrshire programme launched last year and is delivered at Culzean Castle by Ayrshire College in partnership with The National Trust for Scotland, Girvan Youth Trust and South Ayrshire Council.
Since 2013, Ayrshire College has also delivered a South Ayrshire Project SEARCH programme at University Hospital Crosshouse, in partnership with NHS Ayrshire & Arran and East Ayrshire Council.
There are currently over 60 Project SEARCH programmes in the United Kingdom. The South Ayrshire programme is unique in that it is the only National Trust site in the United Kingdom.
The eight graduates of the programme rotated around three work placements each during their nine-month spell at Culzean Castle, working in the café, the gardens, the gift shop, the hotel, the kitchen, in housekeeping, and with the rangers.
Everyone will now be supported over the next 18 months to find employment. One of the graduates has already secured a position at Trump Turnberry Hotel, while others have work trials and interviews elsewhere.
Clare Baird, Employability and Engagement Officer at Ayrshire College, said: “We are incredibly proud of these young people, they have put in a tremendous effort of work throughout the duration of the programme. I’m looking forward to seeing what they achieve next.”
Sonia Connell, Job Coach with Girvan Youth Trust, said: “I have been fortunate enough to work and development the interns over the past five months as PS job coach. I aim to continue that support to assist all interns gain sustainable employment.”
Ian Cornforth, Head Ranger at Culzean Castle, said: "It's great to see this year’s interns live up to the high standards set by the first intake of interns in 2018. The work that they have done here and the progress that each intern has made is very impressive.”
11 October 2019
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