Project Search’s Falkirk students have graduated from Forth Valley Royal Hospital internship
Falkirk area students with additional support needs have graduated from their one-year internship programme at Forth Valley Royal Hospital as part of DNF Project Search.
Six young interns aged between 18 and 24 began their internship in August 2025 and graduated on Thursday, September 17.
The Falkirk area students Liam Berry, Paul Finlay, Charlotte Russell, Joseph Loutfi, Ross McKay, and Douglas Patton all completed their year-long internship based at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert.
Over their year of education, the interns experienced work placements across various job areas which were all based within the hospital. These included housekeeping, portering, catering, stores, domestic services, and mail room.
The interns also completed food hygiene and manual handling certificates.
Forth Valley College (FVC) lecturers, hospital staff, and supervisors were on-site to assist the interns in their learning. The work-based education was supported by daily classroom activities and regular feedback and discussion from supervisors throughout the year.
From the ten interns that started the course, half have secured employment and the other five have continued on to further education or training courses as they further prepare for employment.
Created from a partnership between FVC, Falkirk Council Employment and Training Unit (ETU), Serco, NHS Forth Valley, and Skills Development Scotland, David Forbes Nixon (DFN) Project Search aims to help students with learning disabilities, autism, or both, gain experience and skills that will help them move into sustainable employment. The DFN Charitable Foundation itself is a UK registered charity which was established in 2014 by David Forbes Nixon with the goal of promoting programmes like Project Search.
Several figures from organisations in the partnership attended the graduation event. Janie Brown, Falkirk Council’s principal officer at the ETU, introduced the event.
Mark O’Hear, Serco’s contract director, Lucy Hawkins, FVC’s curriculum manager for the department of care, sport, business, and communities, and Isobel Critch from Project Search all spoke at the event. Aiden Moore of the ETU presented the graduation certificates alongside David Crossley, FVC additional support worker, and Angela MacLeod, FVC lecturer.
Lucy Hawkins said: “It was an amazing Graduation for our Project Search Interns. We had a lovely afternoon showcasing their achievements, and chatting with parents and carers. We wish them the best of luck in their employment.”