What is WorkFit?
WorkFit is an innovative employment programme that connects employers and people with Down’s syndrome who want a job. Launched in 2011, WorkFit is a tailored service dedicated to training employers about the learning profile of people who have Down’s syndrome so that they can be supported in the workplace. Since WorkFit started in the south five years ago, 43 people have been placed and supported in employment. More than 100 people with Down’s syndrome are now on the books and seeking employment.
Why is WorkFit needed?
Many people with Down’s syndrome leave education with the skills and desire to work, yet struggle to access employment. Statistics show that nationally, just 5.9% of people with a learning disability are in paid employment. It’s a downward trend year-on year, and confirmation that schemes like WorkFit are vital. People with Down’s syndrome face an 'invisible barrier' when looking for work. Factors contributing to this include employer attitudes, a lack of support, a lack of information and unclear pathways into employment.
How much does it cost?
It costs the Down’s Syndrome Association £64,000 per year to fund its WorkFit programme in the south alone, with all monies coming from donations and grants. We are hoping to crowdfund at least £15,000 of this amount. Without support we will not be able to afford to keep running this programme in the south, as we receive no direct government funding.
Why is it so important?
Amy works at a hotel in Devon and says: “I love going to work, I have new friends and feel like I have achieved a lot. I feel like a member of the team and I love getting paid.” See Amy talk about why WorkFit is important: 
Tom works as a Laboratory Assistant at the Environment Agency’s National Laboratory Service. He said: “I travel by bus and train and then walk to get to work. I wear special clothes and glasses at work to keep me safe. It’s great to be working here.”
Donating to WorkFit in the south will ensure that people like Amy and Tom are given the opportunity to learn skills and be a part of the workplace like everybody else.