Project SEARCH empowers young people to launch careers in Wakefield and Kirklees | News

Celebrating another successful year, the Project SEARCH programme continues to transform lives by offering a year-long supported internship for young adults aged 17–25 with autism and/or learning disabilities. 

Delivered in partnership with Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, Kirklees Council, Wakefield Council, Kirklees College, Wakefield College, and other local organisations, the programme delivers real work experience, employability training, and independent living skills.

At graduation events at Pinderfields and Dewsbury Hospitals where the internships took place, this year’s fantastic interns celebrated their successful completion of the programme. They were joined by their families, mentors, job coaches, curriculum leads, and NHS colleagues who supported their placements. These were inclusive and meaningful events where interns shared the valuable workplace skills they had learned and their experiences of placement rotations across various departments, with several interns already achieving paid roles.

Leah Shaw, Job Coach, led the Dewsbury graduation ceremony and said:

“This was my first year at Project SEARCH and what a wonderful set of students! They have come so far and it’s been an honour to watch them grow. 

“I would like to thank all the mentors from the NHS that have supported our students and I’m excited to see what next year brings.”

By fostering a culture of inclusion and empowerment, Project SEARCH not only transforms the lives of its participants but also demonstrates the immense value and potential of a diverse workforce.

Balvinder Singh Bains, Head of Emergency Planning, Resilience & Special Operations at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, supported an intern this year and saw a huge improvement in his confidence and skills. He said:

“I’m a big fan of Project Search and my experiences of supporting an intern this year have been rewarding. It’s shown me the huge benefits for our services and the interns themselves. I feel very privileged to have been part of the scheme.

“Project Search is an amazing example of what we can achieve together and how we can change lives while expanding our learning and building our workforce for the future”.

When asked about supporting an intern in his team, Balvinder said:

“By the end, he confidently delivered a slick and well-paced presentation which would have felt impossible at the start of the programme. 

“His workplace and social skills have been transformed and he became a valued member of the team whose skills were constantly developing. I am positive he will receive amazing opportunities in the future.”

The family of one of this year’s Project SEARCH interns said:

“Project SEARCH has changed our lives! We did not know what the future would look like in regard to employment but can honestly say that it has been the best thing that could have come to us and at the right time. 

“As a family, we did not know where to turn to next with education and employment, so to have not only secured a job but to have a career is amazing.”

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from taking part in the programme in 2026, visit www.midyorks.nhs.uk/project-search for more information about how to apply.