Fewer than one in five people who have a learning disability such as Down’s syndrome or Fragile X work. But, according to the charity Mencap, at least 65 per cent would like to work, for much the same reasons as everyone else — it provides us with a sense of purpose and is an important part of our identity.

Toby Staveley, director of Fulbrook-based charity Yellow Submarine, said: “A job can make people with learning disabilities feel useful and worthwhile; become more independent; and engage them with their community.

“Irrespective of the nature of the work, my experience is that participants are really pleased and proud to be involved.”

One reason for the present situation is that many people in society at large underestimate the abilities of people with any kind of disability.

Another is the difficulty of creating employment opportunities that are genuinely suitable.

Given time and funding constraints, it is hard for social workers to offer an appropriate level of ongoing support, something that is vitally important where vulnerable people are involved.

Finally, there is the lack of confidence that many people with learning disabilities have about their own abilities.

Mr Staveley, who has a Master’s degree in Learning Disabilities and Mental Health, and several years’ involvement with Mencap groups, is keen to help dismantle this last obstacle.

A grant of £9,600 from the National Lottery is enabling Yellow Submarine to run a skills4work programme.

Through this those with learning disabilities are encouraged to start thinking of themselves as potential employees or volunteers and to try out some of the skills they would need in the workplace.

For example, they may learn about working in a café — cooking, table laying, serving customers and so on, or about gardening, or working in a charity shop. The programme includes half day work placements.

The idea for this scheme grew partly out of the holidays that were the original reason for setting up Yellow Submarine.

Mr Staveley had been inspired by the experience of his late uncle, Max Blomer, who had Down’s syndrome. He had a lifelong ambition to go on holiday to Disney World in Florida, and did eventually achieve this, but it was expensive because he had to pay not only his own expenses but those of a social worker to accompany him.

Reflecting on this, Mr Staveley felt it would be sensible to develop holidays for people with learning disabilities that would be more cost-effective, usually UK-based and involving small groups of four or five staying in holiday cottages rather than individuals in hotels – which also makes the holidays more sociable and enjoyable.

Since May 2009, Yellow Submarine has run 17 holidays, each three to six days long, in Blackpool, Brighton, the Isle of Wight and other locations.

The most recent holidays have included not only afternoon excursions and leisure activities but mornings of skills training.

For participants used to having most things done for them, it is exciting and new to be trusted to do things such as menu planning.

“It is all about breaking down this idea that jobs are what people who are labeled as ‘able’ can do,” said Mr Staveley.

The reality is there are few employment opportunities out there, although some pioneering initiatives show what can be done.

Some social enterprises provide supportive work environments for people with learning disabilities: examples in Oxfordshire include Oxford Wholefoods, which provides employment for 40 people and celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, and Botley Road-based Able Types, which offers direct mail, database and other business services.

Local charity, My Life, My Choice, is run by and for more than 400 people with learning disabilities. One aspect of its work is a member-run café in West Oxford Community Centre.

Yellow Submarine does not have sufficient resources to act as an employment agency.

But Mr Staveley plans to create self-employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities through workshops where they will make greetings cards, personalised T-shirts, and other craft items.

He intends to sell these through an Internet shop and other outlets and would be pleased to hear from volunteer artists who might be able to assist with this new project, potential financial supporters, and people who would like to help out with other aspects of Yellow Submarine’s work.

The Government is keen for people with learning disabilities to work. It is a key aspiration of its recent learning disability policy paper Valuing People Now.

But far more practical support is needed to make this a reality.

“With day services being rapidly cut there is a real danger that people with learning disabilities are being sentenced to a life of isolation and loneliness,” Mr Staveley said.

Name: Yellow Submarine Established: 2009 Director: Toby Staveley Number of staff: One and 10+ volunteers Turnover: Confidential

Contact: 01993 822098 Web: www.yellowsubmarine.org.uk