MORE than 2,000 people with a learning disability were helped by the Access to Work initiative in 2014/15, figures reveal.

The number is an increase of 14 per cent on the previous year, and includes more than 1,600 people with a mental health condition.

The Government’s Access to Work scheme aims to help people with learning disabilities into work and includes providing help with travel to work as well as access to support workers and specialist adaptations to help overcome the challenges they face in the workplace.

Their employers will receive financial support with the extra costs associated with employing a disabled person beyond reasonable adjustments expected under the law.

Minister for Disabled People, Swindon North MP Justin Tomlinson, said: “It’s great news that more people are taking advantage of the support on offer through the Access to Work scheme.

"These figures show we are making real progress in supporting disabled people to find and stay in employment – delivering on our commitment to halve the disability employment gap.

“With almost a quarter of a million more disabled people in work compared to last year it’s clear employers are waking up to the talent that is out there.”

To build on the latest growth in user numbers, the Government will expand the existing Mental Health/Fluctuating Conditions Team of Access to Work advisers into a Hidden Impairments Specialist Team.

This will target support at people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities as well as dyslexia, autism and other less visible disabilities.

Since April 2007, the Government says Access to Work has helped nearly 124,000 disabled people into employment.

Changes to the scheme announced in March this year introduced personal budgets for those who want them as well as enhancing support for disabled people who wish to start their own businesses.

For more information about the Access to Work scheme go to https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview.