GIRVAN Youth Trust have launched their new project Hand in Hand to support young people with additional support needs.

The initiative will link up with Project SEARCH which is an employability programme for 17– 24 year olds in South Ayrshire who have learning disabilities and/or on the autistics pectrum that want to gain employment. 

Project SEARCH aims to build skills and provides employment support for the young person.

Courses will be held at Culzean Castle by the National Trust for Scotland between February, 19, 2018and Septempter, 28, 2018.

Yvonne McGill, Hand in Hand Project Co-ordinator, said: “I full-time with Girvan Youth Trust as a Project Co-ordinator for a Project called Hand in Hand which supports young people with Additional Support Needs. 

“At this time we are working in partnership with Ayrshire College and the National Trust for Scotland – Culzean Castle to launch ‘Project SEARCH’ which will provide 10 internship opportunities for young people with Learning Disabilities. We are now accepting applications for this unique opportunity now.”

Project SEARCH works in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland, Ayrshire College, and Girvan Youth Trust with the hope of achieving paid employment for individuals in South Ayrshire with disabilities, by developing their transferable employment.

It provides a one-year work placement for students with learning disabilities and/or on the autistic spectrum in their final year of education and want their next step to be employment.

Interns spend their day at the National Trust for Scotland’s Culzean Castle. 

Total immersion in a working environment supports the teaching and learning process and builds employability and the work skills needed for employment. 

Interns participate in three rotations to explore a variety of job and career paths. They work with a team that includes their family, college tutor and job coach specialist, to create an employment goal.

Those who take part will complete a variety of work placements in Culzean Castle, acquire competitive, transferable, and marketable job skills and gain increased independence.

It aims to build their self–esteem, obtain work-based individualised instruction, coaching, support and feed-back from the instructor, job coach and host business managers and mentors.

Project search want to develop links to adult support agencies. A bursary may be available, depending on circumstances.

Those who are interested should contact Yvonne McGill at Girvan Youth Trust on 01465 714729 or email: yvonne@z1girvan.org.uk