A BRADFORD hospital-based initiative which helps young people with learning disabilities into work has welcomed its new yearly intake of students.

Nine Project SEARCH interns (pictured), aged between 18 and 24, are settling into life at Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust where they will gain valuable work experience in various roles over the next nine months.

Project SEARCH Co-ordinator, Bryony Dolby, said: “Getting a job is difficult at the best of times but when you have learning difficulties it makes it even harder.

“Project SEARCH bridges the gap between school and employment for these young people and equips them with real-life skills that can help them secure permanent employment after they have graduated from the project.

“The support we get from both the trust and parents is invaluable.

"The new students are really rising to the challenge and can’t wait to get out into our hospitals and their new jobs as their induction period is nearly over.

"You can see their confidence growing day by day.”