Welcome to your supporter magazine
"Hello, I’m Niaz. I have a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
and
autism
Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different.
, and I work in retail at Currys.
That’s all thanks to Mencap’s support with
employment
Employment means having a job.
. You can read about how hard it was for me to find work in my letter, and you can see how I’m now thriving in this issue of Mencap Matters.
You can also meet Richard, who loves working too. Richard works at Mencap and wants more employers to let people with a learning disability show what they can do in the workplace. I agree!"
No more work barriers
A staggering 86% of
survey
A survey is when someone asks you to answer some questions.
respondents with a learning disability who did not have a paid job told us they would like one.
Zeeshan at Mencap supports people with a learning disability to find work. He’s witnessed the barriers first-hand.
He’s also noticed people who don’t disclose their learning disability on applications tend to get more opportunities.
One of the people I support got a haircut and bought a suit to make a great impression for an
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
,” says Zeeshan.
“When we arrived, the interviewer took one look at us and said ‘I’m sorry, he won’t be suitable for the role.’ That’s
without taking the candidate through any of the questions!”
Give to Mencap today
By doing so you could help us
campaign
A campaign is when people work together to try to change something.
for better in-work support for people with a learning disability, lobby
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council Tax is the money that people pay to the council. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (
NHS
The NHS is the National Health Service. The NHS gives free healthcare to everyone in the UK and includes things like your GP (doctors) surgery and hospitals.
) should work.
for more inclusive employment policies, or deliver more programmes to help people with a learning disability into work.
Join the learning disability movement
We know you believe in a world where everyone is seen and heard, not mocked, bullied and excluded. Together, we can make sure people with a learning disability are fully included and valued in all aspects of life, including work.
“Do you see me?” is Mencap’s campaign to make visibility and inclusion the reality for people with a learning disability. This means everyone being truly seen and recognised for who they are.
As well as helping people directly, Mencap is trying to change society so no one with a learning disability is overlooked.
To achieve change, we’re looking at how others see people with a learning disability. Everyone from the public and
employers through to people working in healthcare and
education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
.
Stand with us as an everyday
activist
An activist is a person who campaigns to bring about change.
. Maybe you’re a
support worker
Support workers
Support workers are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
are people who are paid to give care and support to people who need it.
, family member, or have a learning disability
yourself? Everyone’s welcome to help challenge unfairness by campaigning with us. To say enough is enough! But
you don’t have to go to protests to have your voice heard! You can make a stand with us through our online actions.
"I'm thriving in my career" - Niaz's work story
"My journey to employment wasn’t easy, but alongside Mencap I landed a job as a retail assistant. Since then, I haven’t looked back.
Working at Currys is amazing. I’ve met a lot of people – both colleagues and customers – and learned so much
about the products on sale.
The managers are super supportive. So is the whole team, and I have a computer to help with my spelling. I’ve made friends too. We had a lot of fun going bowling after work recently."
"I have an amazing support system at work and feel so respected. I feel like my colleagues don’t see my learning disability as an issue at all. We all help each other out."
"There have been so many highlights. Before I’d finished my probation Probation is a word with 2 meanings: It can mean the first 6 months in a new job, or it can mean when you are allowed to go home after you have been in trouble with the police. , my hours were extended. That was a great feeling.
I’ve even sold a £5,000 TV! My manager was so happy with me and said well done. Another time, I received a card
and voucher for doing well.
Working has built up my confidence. I’m much happier and am losing weight. And the money from my new job has allowed me to save for the future. I also bought a gaming keyboard and video games, and an air fryer for my mum.
I love gaming and am going to be the store’s gaming expert and get special training. Maybe one day I’ll be a manager, or run sales events.
My story shows how people with a learning disability can succeed at work, so don’t give up if you’re looking for a job."
"Don't dismiss us!" - Richard's work story
"By the time you’re reading this magazine, I’ll have been working at Mencap for 16 years. I love my job and
feel happy to have it.
I’m a Lived
Experience
Experience is when you have learned or tried something before.
Adviser. I work with other advisers, and we all share ideas and talk about things that affect
us. We have lots of
knowledge
Knowledge is knowing a lot about something.
about living with a learning disability. I can be myself and feel like I help people when I share my experiences.
I’ve had good and bad employment experiences. Once, I did warehouse work and cleaning. The job was OK, but the people I worked with left me out and wouldn’t talk to me. They didn’t respect me at all.
Having a job is really important to me. When I was old enough to work, I didn’t want to be asking my dad for money.
I wanted to be independent and buy my own things. These days, I feel proud of earning money, so I can pay the bills and support my partner. I feel useful and it makes me feel much better about myself.
It’s important that people with a learning disability get the opportunity to work. With the right support we can
do anything that anyone else can do. But there’s still negative opinions and
discrimination
Discrimination is when someone is treated differently (usually in a bad way) because of things like their disability or their
religion
Religion is to do with the things you believe about the world. For example you may believe there is a god or something else. Examples of religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
.
creeps in."
"I want employers to let people with a learning disability show what they can do in the workplace."
As Richard points out, with the right support people with a learning disability make exceptional, dedicated, hardworking employees who add real value to any team. Mencap has lots of information to help employers be truly inclusive and reap the benefits of recruiting people with a learning disability. Visit our employer page for details.
Mencap's supported employment services
How we are tackling a system that isn't working.
People with a learning disability, like Niaz and Richard, deserve every chance to work. Through Mencap supported employment services, we’re breaking down workplace barriers.
Our service partners with local communities in England and Wales. Together, we’re supporting people with a learning disability and autism aged 18 and over to develop their skills for the workplace, apply for jobs, and more.
Our Mencap Training Academy also delivers
supported internships
A work placement for young people with additional needs, where they get support from a job coach.
to help young people aged 16-24 who have
a learning disability to move from education into work.
Our employment support helps with:
- writing a
CV
A CV is also called a Curriculum Vitae. It is a document with information about: your skills, your qualifications and any jobs or volunteering you have done. You may have to send a CV when you try to get a job.
- searching for work
- getting ready for a job interview
- understanding pay
- staying safe at work
- travelling to work.
Looking to find a job?
Our employment manifesto
Limited funding means we’re currently only able to deliver our supported employment services in
certain
Certain means you are sure about something.
areas. But, we’re campaigning for additional support.
We want:
- more people with a learning disability to have the chance to work
- employers to understand that many people with a learning disability can do a good job with the right support
- support for people with a learning disability to find the right job - and improved benefits which are too low to live on.
Along with employment, The Mencap Manifesto covers social care, the call for homes not hospitals, healthcare, cost of living and bullying.
"Getting life back on track"
What people with a learning disability say about our employment support:
"I had no idea that I even had skills and qualities in the first place."
"I was much better prepared for interviews."
"You helped me get my confidence back in regard to my education."
Win a dream home in Yorkshire and support Mencap!
| Enter the Omaze Yorkshire House Draw to support Mencap’s work, breaking down barriers to create a fairer, more inclusive society for people with a learning disability. |
Building a better future for Alfie
| Alfie’s parents worked with Mencap to get funding for a garden climbing frame, giving their beloved son
independence
Alfie loves being outside, but it was difficult to find activities that would engage him. Alfie now has a play area where he has freedom to explore and climb, learning in his own way.” By leaving a gift in your Will to Mencap, you can help us support more children with a learning disability, like Alfie, to live a without boundaries. |
"Help us to be seen as important"
By giving whatever you can spare today, you could help Mencap support people with a learning disability with their skills and dreams.