A film showcasing a scheme that helps people with learning disabilities gain paid or voluntary work has been launched by a Harrow charity. Community Link Up has made the film to showcase the scheme and encourage more employers to hire people with learning disabilities.

The Journey to Employment video focuses on two people with learning disabilities who have gained employment through the scheme. Nazia Hussain, who has a placement at Jato, and Emily Minney, a paid employee at Starbucks, talk about their experiences of work, and the difference it has made to their lives, on the film.

Emily, 26, started work at Starbucks in Pinner about two years ago and now works three days a week. Her manager, Kerrie Low, describes Emily as a “full member of the team”, and says they would be “lost without her”. Emily said: “Link Up helped me with my confidence and helped me to be myself and be more independent, doing things on my own, travelling on my own, and getting involved with a lot more activities on my own.

“Our experience with Emily has been so positive that recently, through Link Up, we’ve placed another person in a local store and having spoke to several members of the team there, they’re getting the same positive experience we are.”

Community Link Up aims to integrate people with learning disabilities more fully into the life of the community through friendship. For more information click Linkup