Councillor Colin Smyth, chairman of the Council’s Economic, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, formally launched Project Search at DG First, Garroch Loaning, Dumfries.
Originally conceived at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in the United States of America in 1996 to provide valuable training, education and experience to young people with additional support needs, Project Search has grown with a multitude of projects underway around the world.
The Dumfries and Galloway project, involving 12 young people from around the region, is a partnership of Dumfries and Galloway College, Project Search, Dumfries and Galloway Council, and the Employability and Skills Service .
Councillor Smyth said “Projects such as this are a major part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s policies of creating economic growth and supporting young people into employment. It demonstrates the region’s determination to be completely inclusive in providing fair opportunity to all our young people. I wish the young people participating in the project every success.“
Anne O Bryan of Project Search Europe, who welcomed Dumfries and Galloway into the Project Search community, said, “I thought it was a wonderful event with great support from all partners and DG First in particular. The interns have all made a great start and Reegan spoke brilliantly about their journey so far. “
Reegan Rodger, Project Search intern, said, “Project Search is a 1 year vocational course for people like me who have hidden disabilities that can lead to us struggling to find a job. We are not guaranteed a job at the end of the course but I feel it gives us a great opportunity to gain knowledge, learn job ready skills, earn qualifications, and find out what job type is a good fit for us.“
