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Hefin David MS Visits Engage to Change Project SEARCH Supported Internship at Cardiff University. Left to Right: Stacey Baker, Tyler Savory, Andrea Meek, Andrew Worsey, Angela Kenvyn, Hefin David MS, Geraint Evans, Gerraint Jones Griffiths, Dr Elisa Vigna and Christopher Day

Past and present interns on the Engage to Change Project SEARCH Supported Internship at Cardiff University were delighted to receive a visit from Hefin David MS who visited to learn more about the programme.

Cardiff University is a host business for Project SEARCH and has provided internship placements for over 65 young people who have a learning disability and/or autism over the last 6 years.  It is part of the wider Engage to Change Project, a Wales-wide supported employment initiative which started in 2016. The supported internship programme is delivered by a partnership including Learning Disability Wales, DFN Project SEARCH, ELITE Supported Employment Agency,  the National Centre for Mental Health at Cardiff University, and Cardiff and the Vale College.

The visit, hosted by the National Centre for Mental Health, was arranged after Mr David attended the launch of Engage to Change’s evaluation report “The First Four Years,” and was keen to see, in action, the work the project does.

On the 9th of June 2022, Mr David visited the Hadyn Ellis building where he was greeted by Engage to Change Lead Ambassador Gerraint Jones Griffiths. Gerraint was happy to meet with Hefin David saying “You a

lways feel important meeting government members or Ministers because it gives you pride and self-respect, plus it is great that they are willing to learn more about the work you’re doing to help reflect on government 

future policies and legislation”. 

Hefin David met with representatives from project partners including Project Manager Angela Kenvyn, Andrea Meek and Elisa Vigna from NCMH research team.  He was provided with information about Engage to Change and the internship programme before starting a tour to meet with interns.  Mr David was guided to two current placements by Christopher Day, the intern’s Tutor from Cardiff and the Vale College, and Gerraint Evans, an Employment Advisor from ELITE Support Employment Agency, both of whom have been working closely with this year’s cohort of interns. They were accompanied by Lead Ambassador Gerraint.  

Hefin David MS talks to intern Hamza Siddique
Hefin David MS talks to intern Hamza Siddique

Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences was the first stop where Mr David met with intern Hamza Siddique and intern mentor Lindsey Owen. Hamza spoke to Mr David about the work he was carrying out in the laboratory, which included labelling samples of material found on the sea floor. The next visit was made to the historic Cardiff Student Union building where Mr David met with intern Jayden Hostler, who is placed with the busy Student Services team. Both interns were enthusiastic to meet Mr David and to emphasize how they had benefited from their placements and the impact the internship had made on their confidence and lives.

Hefin David MS and Past interns and current NCMH employees Tyler Savory and Andrew Worsey

On return to Hayden Ellis, Mr David had the opportunity to meet with two past interns, Tyler Savory and Andrew Worsey, who had gained paid employment within NCMH as a result of their internship. Both young men work in data entry and have become a vital part of the NCMH team. Tyler told Mr David that he hadn’t known such roles were available before starting his internship, but he now is happy and proud to work with the team on the important research they carry out.

Tyler and Andrew stayed to join discussions between Mr David and the project partners about what they feel is needed from Welsh Government to support young people with learning disabilities and autism into employment. Mr David was open and responsive to the conversation, including the need for a national job coaching service and support for adults with learnings disabilities and autism over the age of twenty-five. Mr David expressed that he was keen to work further with Engage to Change as the project progresses towards leaving a legacy.

Following his visit, the team were delighted to hear Mr David reference his visit as he asked a question to Minister for Economy Vaughan Gething, in the Senedd Plenary session on the 15th of June.

Mr David said “Last Week I had the pleasure of attending the Engage to Change and Project SEARCH internship at Cardiff University where I met the hugely dedicated team that are at work there. Engage to Change intends to leave a legacy for people with learning disabilities, specific learning disabilities and/or autism and I saw that they placed in work people with autism and learning disabilities. It is an impressive project.”

He then asked the Minister about his plans for support for adults over the age of twenty-five, referencing the conversation he had on his visit to the internship. Mr David questioned the Minister on the provision of job coaches for those over twenty-five saying

“The Minister recognised the importance of job coaching for people with learning disabilities and autism within the Employability and Skills Plan which was published. What was raised to me at that meeting though was what plans the Welsh Government has for job coaching support for people over the age of twenty-five years who wish to work and who may currently be Social Services users and outside the remit of supported apprenticeships. So, what further plans does the Minister have for those aged over twenty-five in those circumstances?”

In his response Vaughan Gething talked about the expectation that support would be provided via the new ReAct+ programme. He also mentioned that inclusion of job coach support in the Employment and Skills Plan was, in part, informed by a meeting he’d previously had with Learning Disability Wales (and Engage to Change partners).

Project Manager Angela Kenvyn said “It was a pleasure to welcome Hefin David to meet Engage to Change interns and staff. Partners appreciate his support and are delighted the question was raised by him on our behalf at the Senedd”

Hefin David’s full question and Vaughan Gething’s response can be accessed in the video below. https://youtu.be/X8O7BxA_LjU