DFN Project Search Wakefield

27/08/2025

Celebrating another successful year, the Project SEARCH programme continues to transform lives by offering a year-long supported internship for young adults aged 17–25 with autism and/or learning disabilities.

Delivered in partnership with our Trust, Kirklees Council, Wakefield Council, Kirklees College, Wakefield College, and other local organisations, the programme delivers real work experience, employability training, and independent living skills.

At graduation events at Pinderfields and Dewsbury Hospitals where the internships took place, this year’s fantastic interns celebrated their successful completion of the programme. They were joined by their families, mentors, job coaches, curriculum leads, and NHS colleagues who supported their placements.

The family of one of this year’s Project SEARCH interns said:
“Project SEARCH has changed our lives! We did not know what the future would look like in regard to employment but can honestly say that it has been the best thing that could have come to us and at the right time.

“As a family, we did not know where to turn to next with education and employment, so to have not only secured a job but to have a career is amazing.”

If you or someone you know could benefit from taking part in the programme in 2026, please visit https://bit.ly/project-search-2025 for more information.

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

Today we celebrated Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust interns' graduation.

Congratulations to our 8 interns graduating today and we wish you all the best for your future.

Thank you to so many mentors, managers and partners who attended to celebrate all the group have achieved this year.

Also a huge thank you to Cllr Maureen Tennant-King for Featherstone Ward 6 for presenting the interns with their certificates and to previous graduates, Jacob and Courtney, for speaking about their journey.

More photos to follow!

Wakefield College Hft

26/06/2025

Congratulations to Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust intern, Korri! Today she left the programme to start her IT technician apprenticeship.

Well done on all your hard work and we wish you good luck in your new role!

Thank you to the IT team at Mid Yorkshire Trust for providing 3 excellent placements which have enabled Korri to get to where she is now.

Wakefield College DFN Project Search HQ

05/06/2025

Today we had a special moment at Pinderfields Hospital. One of our Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust interns on placement with the IT department worked with two DFN Project Search HQ graduates now employed by the Trust to install the new computer in the Project Search classroom.

An excellent example of graduates being given the confidence to support new interns on placement.

02/05/2025

We had a great morning at We Are Wakefield networking event held at the new WX Wakefield

We had the opportunity to meet local businesses and to raise awareness of some of the barriers our interns face finding employment.

28/04/2025

Pinderfields Hospital interns have been busy on their 3rd placements. Interns are on placements with the cleaning team, in IT, on wards and many more.

Interns on Project Search have the opportunity to take part in 3 placements at the hospital and around Wakefield.

Placements are dependent on an individual's career goals.

26/03/2025

Please send in application forms for DFN Project Search at Pinderfields Hospital by the 4th April.

Applicants will then be invited to an assessment day on 24th April. Assessment day is a chance to showcase your skills and to make sure the hospital is the right fit for you and your career ambitions.

Message us or email projectsearch@heartfofyorkshire.ac.uk for any questions or to receive an application form.

Applicants need:
✔️ A current EHCP
✔️ Be aged 18 - 25
✔️ Want to find paid employment

20/03/2025

We have a stall at Pinderfields Hospital main atrium until 2.30pm today.
Come along to find out how supported internships at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust can support young people with a disability into employment.

Thank you to our graduate, Courtney, for coming to talk about her experience working at the trust and to Annabel for talking about her time on Project Search at an online meeting for staff.

07/03/2025

The build up to Hands Across Wakefield before joining the human chain of 2000 people 🤝

07/03/2025

We had a great time taking part in Hands Across Wakefield with our interns. We joined 2000 other people making a human chain from Pinderfields Hospital to Wakefield Cathedral.

Click on the link to see if you can spot us on the video 📸

The ambitious charity event of 2,000 people in a human chain stretching from Pinderfields Hospital to Wakefield Cathedral has started!

05/03/2025

We're at Camphill Wakefield this morning at their Careers Takeover Day talking to students about opportunities at DFN Project Search.