A group of Project SEARCH interns became proud graduates this month, receiving their certificates at a ceremony in front of their families.

The project is a 12-month internship for young education leavers with learning disabilities or autism.

Its primary objective is to secure competitive employment. Nationally, the unemployment rate for adults with disabilities/autism is approximately 90 per cent, the project supports the development of skills and behaviours that support these young adults in to meaningful paid employment.

Mandy Hughes, workforce modernisation manager at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board (BCUHB), said: “As a health board we are committed to ensuring that we have an inclusive culture where leaders routinely demonstrate their commitment to promoting equality within BCUHB and beyond to enable a fair and inclusive workforce.

“We are delighted with the success of our second cohort of Project Search interns, the graduation ceremony was a lovely way to demonstrate the health Board and our partners continued support of the programme.”

The ceremony was held at Grwp Llandrillo Menai College’s Glynllifon campus with the certificates presented to the interns by BCUHB chairman, Mark Polin and Dafydd Evans, chief executive Officer of Grwp Llandrillo Menai.

Mr Polin said: “It was an honour for me to attend the graduation ceremony to celebrate the success of our interns.

“I would like to extend our thanks to the partners, Engage to Change, Agoriad Cyf, Grwp Llandrillo Menai and Learning Disability Wales who work with us to support and encourage these young adults to become the best employees that they can be.”

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