More businesses in Helston and further afield are being encouraged to learn the value of employing someone with Down’s syndrome.

Charlie Lyne and his family are hoping to raise more awareness about how much someone with Down’s is actually capable of, as well as show the need for more work experience opportunities to be available.

Fourteen-year-old Charlie, from Gweek, has already spent time working at the Black Swan in Gweek, Gweek Stores, Glendurgan Garden and with artist Chris Billington.

He has most recently finished a placement at Slice of Cornwall near Wendron working alongside chef-owner Oli Kiss.

Oli said he would have no qualms in recommending taking on a person with Down’s syndrome for work experience, saying: “It’s been really good having Charlie here. He’s really loved all the little jobs we’ve given him and he’s been really good.”

All the placements have been organised by Charlie’s mum Ruthanne, a primary school teacher by trade, who now spends one day a week home schooling her son, particularly focussing on practical skills such as cooking and use of money that he will need when he is older.

She said: “It’s to give him an idea of what real jobs are out there and also to give him skills that will help him every day.

“People like Charlie have something to give. They’re capable of more than people think they are.

“We’d like to develop awareness but also tolerance. These people are in the community and they’re entitled to get a job the same as everyone else, and be given the same opportunities – but without support they can’t.

“The idea is to make people aware that people with Down’s syndrome are very capable if given the right experiences and support.”

She added while Charlie sometimes needed things explained to him in a simplified way, she pointed out that that anyone starting a job, whether disabled or not, needed different instructions or things worded differently if they did not already have the skills beforehand.

Charlie said Slice had been his favourite place of work so far, particularly prepping the food ready for cooking.

Ruthanne accompanies him on every shift and is on hand to explain anything Charlie might not understand the first time, or to oversee tasks such as chopping with knives.

The remainder of the week Charlie spends in the area resource base (ARB) classes at Penryn College, where Ruthanne said staff had really noticed the improvement in his confidence and abilities since taking on the work experience placements.

Charlie now dreams of becoming a lollipop man “to help people” – ideally dressed as Batman, although he’s open to alternative uniforms.