Less than 6% of people with a learning disability are in paid work, despite many being able and willing, according to Mencap.

As part of the charity’s learning disability work experience week, they helped their learners secure a work placement.

Courtney Oyston, 20, came to the Medway Messenger’s offices.

As part of the Mencap learning disability work experience week, my placement was to come to the Medway Messenger offices in Strood.

I got this opportunity by being on the Young Ambassador programme with Mencap. I got involved with Mencap because they are helping me to gain the skills I need to help me find work.

I’ve always loved reading and writing and I was so excited when reporter Clare Freeman offered me the opportunity to visit and write a piece for the Medway Messenger.

I was thrilled and told Clare how I used to deliver the paper and now I have the chance to write for them.

Mencap approached local businesses and organisations to take part and offer someone with a learning disability a work experience opportunity.

For my work experience I was shown how the reporters at the Medway Messenger get their stories through different sources and how the stories eventually end up in the paper.

Clare showed me around the offices and introduced me to all the other members of staff and explained their roles.

I also visited the kmfm radio studio with newsreader Josh Coupe and even had a go at reading the news. I loved being in the radio studio with the earphones on, I’ve always wanted to be a presenter on TV and radio.

This has been a really positive experience for myself and the other eight people who took part in the week.

Steven Moon shadowed Natasha Steer, community engagement manager for Nucleus Arts, who said Steven had been “an amazing help”.

Vince Burford and Terry Allen enjoyed the roles of facilities assistants at the Vanquis Bank in Chatham. Kerry Stark also worked at the Vanquis Bank in the HR department.

Lisa Pullinger was a receptionist at RBLI Chatham. She said: “I had a great time meeting and greeting all of the visitors and customers to the office and making sure they signed in and out.”

Katy Dyer was a customer service assistant at The Printers, Chatham. She said: “The manager of the shop asked me to design and print a poster for Remembrance Day for the front of the shop which was great.”

Gordon Lewington was a café assistant at Sun Pier House Tearooms and Shaun Byford was a general assistant at Moore Skills. They all loved their roles.

I have really enjoyed being with Mencap, I have made new friends and learnt new skills. At first I was really shy and abrupt but then after a while I have come out of my shell and grown more confident in myself.

Matthew Parry, employer engagement manager at Mencap, said the work experience week gave people with a learning disability a much-needed step on the career ladder.

He said: “It is now in its fourth year and it continues to get bigger and better – not only do work placements provide people with a learning disability with independence and new skill set but it is also a great opportunity for an employer.

“Each year we see placements getting taken on to full-time, paid positions and we have employers telling us what a fantastic experience being a part of the week has been.”

Mencap’s Young Ambassadors programme helps people aged 18-25 build confidence, interact with other people, and take on responsibility. The latest programme in Chatham saw the group create a magazine about their time on the programme, as well as volunteering at a British Heart Foundation shop and at a disability sports event.

The next step is the Employ Me programme which builds their skills further and helps them to find employment through work experience. They also have help with CVs, interviews, searching for jobs and time-keeping.

Visit www.mencap.org.uk