YOUNG adults with special needs in Bolton are being helped into paid employment thanks to a pioneering scheme.

The Project SEARCH is at the centre of a partnership between Bolton Council, Firwood High School and supported employment provider Remploy.

Its goal is to provide work placements for people aged between 18 and 25 with disabilities, leading to paid employment.

A team, including teacher Angela Crimmins of Firwood School, and teaching assistants Bev Nicholson and Lynda Harrison, have been working out of a Bolton Council office in Le Mans Crescent to prepare the candidates for work.

And they have been visited by Bolton RBS branch manager Louise Kelly to receive guidance on how to open a bank account and manage their finances.

Three people have secured employment from the current group of participants.

Firwood headteacher Karen Walker, who has been in post for five months, hailed the success of the project which has been running for four years in Bolton.

“Firwood School is very proud of the Project SEARCH initiative,” she said. “It is highly successful in its aim to get young people with special needs into paid employment and raises awareness of how our young people can make a positive contribution to society and the world of work.

“Students apply for a place and, if successful, complete three 10-week work placements in order to improve their employability skills.

“We really appreciate the working partnership we have with Bolton Council and Remploy, as well as the many employers across Bolton who have either supplied our young people with a work placement or, even better, a job.

“We are always looking for employers who would like to be involved with Project SEARCH and would welcome contact from any interested employers.”

Remploy manager Simone Tomlinsons said: “A lot of employers have come forward and been really proactive about working with us.

“The support of emp-loyers is very important to our objectives.

“Since the term began we’ve place three people into work and that represents a huge achievement.

“The difference in the students since they came on to the project is unbelievable.”