GIRVAN Youth Trust celebrated the graduation of seven young people successfully completing an internship at Culzean Castle. Participants with a learning disability or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were commended for their hard work and dedicated commitment through the eight-month programme.

The interns were individually recognised and celebrated for all their efforts in Project SEARCH at Culzean through their own special day.

This gave them the opportunity to tell the audience which included their family, friends and colleagues at Culzean about their journeys as interns. They spoke of their highs, lows and what it all meant to them. By the end of the speeches there were few dry eyes in the auditorium.

Each graduate received an award presented to them by Norman Stromsoy, the CEO of DFN Foundation who run Project SEARCH in the United Kingdom.

The project is a unique and successful employment scheme for young people aged between 17 and 24 with a learning disability or ASD where they successfully gain paid employment.

This year seven interns completed the scheme. Project SEARCH plans to increase this to 10 interns in year two which begins in January.

Each intern takes part in three work placements, each lasting nine weeks throughout their internship. These placements include areas such as gardening and grounds, rangers, catering, food service, housekeeping, and retail.

Yvonne McGill, project co-ordinator at Girvan Youth Trust said: “It was a fantastic achievement for the young people to graduate from their internship at Culzean, however that is not the end of their journey with Project SEARCH.

“We will continue to support each of the graduates to gain employment and within the workplace. This is when all their learning and experience gained at Culzean will be put in to practice in the world of work.”

If you are interested or may know someone who would be interested in applying for the January 2019 intake for Project SEARCH South Ayrshire please contact Daryl on 07703464027, email daryl@z1girvan.org.uk or Clare Baird on 07718312910, email: clare.baird@ayrshire.ac.uk. Closing date for applications is November 1.