Students with learning disabilities have heaped praise on an employment programme.
Project Search is designed to get adults, the majority of which are on the autistic spectrum, into work.
For the past nine months the eight students have rotated around several work placements within the grounds of Culzean Castle.
They have worked in the café, the gardens, the gift shop, the hotel, the kitchen, in housekeeping, and with the rangers.
Job coach Sonia Connell said: “It’s wonderful here because we have people working gaining a whole range of skills.
“The adults have a range of disabilities and this course gives them an overall view of what it feels like to be in a working environment.
“They work closely with the teams at Culzean and the main aim once they finish is to get a job.
“We have one intern, Miranda McKay, who has already been successful getting employment as a housekeeper at Turnberry Hotel.”
Since 2013, Ayrshire College has delivered the programme at University Hospital Crosshouse in partnership with NHS Ayrshire & Arran and East Ayrshire Council.
Last year project coordinator Yvonne McGill expanded the programme to Culzean Castle, where it has been delivered in partnership with the National Trust, Girvan Youth Trust and South Ayrshire Council.
Deputy Provost William Grant met students Miranda, Andrew Kane, Alex Walker, Ryan McMaster, Chris Gourlay, Kieran Scott, Caitlin Ireland and Gabriel Johnson as they celebrated their graduation.
Gabriel will now begin a Horticulture course at Ayrshire College after he discovered he was a gardening natural.
The 19-year-old said: “I used to view gardening completely differently, but since coming here and trying it I began to appreciate all the hard work people go through to make things beautiful and make things happen.
“The project has really helped me gain confidence and new skills – I can’t wait to start my course.”
Kieran, 22, added: “It’s been really good for boosting my confidence and helping me gain new skills.”
Andrew, 19, said: “I’ve made friends and learned hundreds of skills here, more than I could ever have imagined.”
Chris, 21, added: “There was a lot of people here that had their issues to start with, but I feel like we have all evolved now that we’re finished. It has been fantastic – mind-blowing.”
