Gateway Sixth Form College has been recognised for the role in championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace by the national charity DFN Project SEARCH.
This award celebrates the college’s commitment to helping young adults with a learning disability or autistic young adults successfully enter full-time employment.
The award was presented by national charity DFN Project SEARCH at their annual conference, where organisations from around the UK met this week to inspire, celebrate success and collaborate to make employment more inclusive. The theme for the conference, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, is part of the charity’s latest campaign to challenge stereotypes and dispel myths surrounding employment for young adults with learning disabilities, calling for more access to high-quality supported employment programmes, such as supported internships, in every local authority.
Speaking to delegates during the Award Ceremony, Kirsty Matthews, Chief Executive of DFN Project SEARCH said:
“I am thrilled to be able to celebrate our award winners at our conference this year. These awards recognise those extraordinary individuals and organisations that are leading the charge to change the status quo, getting more young people into meaningful sustainable employment. Today’s award winners are truly unstoppable, and we salute them.”
Did you know?
- DFN Project SEARCH at Gateway College provides a one-year supported internship programme for young adults with a learning disability or autistic young adults, helping them transition from education to work.
- Supported internships are structured work-based study programmes, equipping young people with practical skills and on-the-job experience. Over 60% of graduates go on to secure full-time employment. Local organisations such as Glenfield Hospital (Leicester UHL), Leicester Marriot Hotel and De Montfort University Leicester have been part of our network of internships for our Project SEARCH students this academic year.
- DFN Project SEARCH is part of the Internship Works Programme, commissioned by the Department for Education to double the number of supported internships by March 2025.
For more information about DFN Project SEARCH and to make an application for the academic year (2025-2026), go to https://gateway.ac.uk/course_category/entry-to-work/