To start the new academic year, Project SEARCH interns gathered at the Guildhall in Bath to meet their coursemates for the first time over a cup of tea.
Project SEARCH is an employability programme run by Bath College, Bath and North East Somerset Council and Virgin Care, which helps young adults with learning disabilities gain the skills they need to become employed.
The students have a mix of classroom-based learning and workplace experience within one of the B&NES departments, with placements varying from working in a kitchen to working in a museum.
Alice Honey, who has been through the Project SEARCH programme, chatted with the new interns about what a positive impact the programme can have.
She said: “I found Project SEARCH really encouraging. It was good because I learnt the skills to get a job and now I am working 16 hours at Action on Hearing Loss which is great because I live so close.
“I really enjoy my job, it’s pretty good.”
Laurel Penrose Principal CEO gave an informal welcome to the new group. She said: “Project SEARCH is very close to our hearts. It’s amazing to see how much students change and grow in confidence from the beginning to the end.
“Sometimes the course will be hard, so please talk to us, everybody needs some help sometimes. It’s a lovely course, you’ll get some really good employment opportunities and experience.”