The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised for its role in championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace by the national charity DFN Project SEARCH.

This award celebrates the Royal Devon’s Eastern services supporting more than 80% of graduates into permanent meaningful employment during the past academic year. The award underscores the Trust’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 its annual conference, where organisations from around the UK met 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.

Gail Richards, Future Careers Lead and Statutory Training Manager at the Royal Devon, was delighted with the results. She said: “I want to recognise the hard work and dedication of our mentors and managers who had supported the interns in providing a meaningful work placement in order for them to gain skills and knowledge to secure employment. 

“I would also like to commend our amazing job coach, Charlotte Jones and Tom Webb, our onsite trainer. Together they have worked endlessly to ensure the best outcomes for our learners.  I would also like to thank our learners for using this platform in showcasing their incredible skills and determination. As I said at the very start, hard work and dedication is always rewarded.”

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.”

You can find out more about Project SEARCH at www.dfnprojectsearch.org