‘Give us the chance to prove what we can do’: Call for more businesses to employ people with learning disabilities | UK News

Tiarma Weston and Ehima Nwoko both began training at Cafe Van Gogh in south London last year.

The cafe aims to help support people with learning disabilities into paid jobs.

After a successful training period, both of them were taken on as paid employees.

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Tiarma Weston says working in the cafe is her dream job

But it’s more than just the money – work isn’t just a job for them – at the cafe they feel valued, part of a team and part of a community.

Speaking to Sky News, Ms Weston described it as her “dream job”.

She said: “It’s amazing. I love working here because I love the customers and serving customers.

“I love cleaning everywhere, I love getting to know other people.

“I like making hot chocolate and all different coffees.

“I feel happy here, I feel joyful getting to know more people.”

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Ehima Nwoko began training at the cafe last year

It is a sentiment shared by Mr Nwoko, who said: “It’s good. I love working here with my good manager.

“He’s always supporting me, I have a family here that support me.”

Cafe Van Gogh opened its doors six years ago and has supported dozens of people with learning disabilities.

Where paid employment cannot be provided by the cafe itself, the team refers people to other organisations.

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Currently, only 5.1% of people with a learning disability in England are employed

Co-owner Steve Clarke told Sky News businesses across all sectors need to begin doing more.

He said: “There are so many positive aspects to hiring someone with a learning disability.

“It brings a real sense of community and fun to the business.

“Also, I think it’s good for business because people want to support a cafe that does something slightly different.”

He said his businesses has seen higher staff retention and low staff absence rates too.

Currently, only 5.1% of people with a learning disability in England are employed.

This is predominantly due to prejudice and barriers both in job application processes and in the workplace itself.

Aaron Plummer recently started a traineeship through an employment programme run by Mencap after being made redundant at his last job.

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The cafe’s co-owner Steve Clarke said there are many positive aspects to hiring someone with a learning disability

He told Sky News the year of unemployment was frustrating.

He said getting the traineeship “felt like an early Christmas present, because it felt like a bit of hope going into the new year”.

“Working gives me something to do. I like to work hard, and it gives me social interaction.”

Mr Plummer added: “People with learning disabilities can do a lot more than you think.

“We are here and it’s important that you give us the chance to prove what we can do and we may surprise you.”

Mark Capper, head of development at Mencap, told Sky News that employers are missing the opportunity to plug gaps in the labour market.

He said: “There’s a huge untapped talent pool in this country that many employers are overlooking.

“This is the ideal opportunity for employers to open their doors and perhaps open their minds to looking at a different group of people who they may have, either intentionally or unintentionally overlooked in the past.”

Mr Capper added: “We would like to see a more inclusive community and more inclusive environment for people where there isn’t stigma for having a learning disability, that the general public understands what learning disabilities are actually.

“Having people in public-facing jobs helps to bring down barriers and helps to create some of that understanding.

“So really seeing people with a learning disability valued within the societies that they live both as active participants in their communities, but equally in active roles within employment.”

https://news.sky.com/story/give-us-the-chance-to-prove-what-we-can-do-call-for-more-businesses-to-employ-people-with-learning-disabilities-12534236