A hospital in Southampton is celebrating Neurodiversity Awareness Week by welcoming five new neurodiverse college students as interns.

The transition-to-work placement aims to give the young adults a taste of working life, work experience that will help them get a job, and an opportunity to be employed at the hospital.

Five interns are currently working in roles that require skills in data input, medical record management, portering, stores, and sterile services.

The college students are gaining valuable work experience at the Practice Plus Group Hospital situated inside Royal South Hants Hospital.

The initiative is part of a wider one-year programme, a joint effort by the hospital, Hampshire College Group, the charity DFN's Project SEARCH, and Southampton City Council Young Adults Employment Hub.

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Charlie Richards, 20, who is working in the theatre's sterile servicing unit, said: "This opportunity has shown me I can get a job.

"This is a job like I have never done before, it’s changed my perspective of a hospital and how it works."

The interns are now seven weeks into a 24-week placement at the hospital.

Fellow intern Iwan Kilroy, 23, who is working in stores, added: "I love it. I’ve settled in well.

"I am now working more independently in a very supportive team."

The students with a learning disability or autism spectrum conditions, or both

Lorna Cantwell, lead job coach at South Hampshire College Group, said: "The opportunity has been a wonderful experience so far.

"An outstanding opportunity for students to gain the experience into a paid role, within a hospital setting in various departments."

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Sherry McBain ARRC, head of nursing and clinical services at the hospital, said: "It’s been a learning curve for all involved, and the benefits are mutual and significant.

"From a personal perspective, seeing the growth in confidence and capability has been inspiring and heart-warming."

Practice Plus Group Hospital, Southampton, treats private and NHS patients and specialises in hip and knee surgery, hernia treatment, and cataract surgery.