College Celebrates National Recognition for Supported Internship Programme

Lancaster and Morecambe College is proud to celebrate the success of its Supported Internship programme, which has received a Bronze Award for ‘Commitment to Outcomes’ at the national DFN Project SEARCH Conference.

The award recognises the achievements of cohorts based at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and highlights a strong, collaborative commitment to supporting young people with learning disabilities and neurodiverse conditions into meaningful, paid employment. It reflects the programme’s continued focus on delivering positive outcomes and creating valuable opportunities across the partnership.

At the heart of this success are our fantastic learners, whose commitment, resilience and determination have led to such strong outcomes. Their achievements are a true reflection of what can be accomplished with the right support, opportunities and ambition.

DFN Project SEARCH is an internationally recognised supported internship programme that equips young people with the skills, confidence and experience needed to move into sustainable employment. This success would not be possible without the dedication of all partners, including DFN Project SEARCH, HFT, Lancashire County Council and Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

The Bronze Award reflects strong outcomes, including:

• Over 70% of interns progressing into employment
• More than 60% achieving employment at the required criteria
• Strong enrolment and retention rates
• High completion levels
• Interns moving into roles paying the living wage or above

Iain Hook, Careers Lead at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are incredibly proud to see our team recognised at a national level. This award reflects the dedication of colleagues, partners and interns, and the positive outcomes achieved.”

This year’s conference focused on building stronger pathways between education and employment, supporting DFN Project SEARCH’s ambition to help 10,000 young people into work by 2030.

This achievement reflects the strength of partnership working and the College’s continued commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for all learners.

If you are interested in joining the Supported Internship programme or would like to find out more, please get in touch with the College team.