John Crompton says he has “music in his blood”. Two years ago, when the rock fan heard about a new radio station launching near his home, he felt he had to get involved.

Crompton, who has a mild learning disability, began volunteering in 2015 at online station Direction Radio, supported by a specialist employment adviser from care provider Surrey Choices. The station, part of Surrey Choices’ day service programme in Epsom, enables people with physical or learning disabilities to develop skills in broadcast and production.

A year ago Crompton, who also plays guitar and drums in a local band, was interviewed for a one-day-a-week paid role at the station. He is now one of two assistant managers who have learning disabilities, working alongside station manager Chris Fenn, who does not have a disability. Crompton is known on-air as DJ JC, presenting a breakfast show and a Saturday night slot as well as mentoring other would-be presenters.

“I like helping people and keeping active,” says the 33-year-old, who lives with his parents and is on working tax credit. “I am someone to rely on … My goal [with my work] is to expand it more so I can do what the station manager does.”

Crompton, along with Fenn and fellow assistant manager Martin Bell, is preparing the Christmas and New Year schedules. The station attracts about 1,000 listeners a day from the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore. Figures are set to rise over the festive period; last year 90,000 people tuned in on Christmas Eve, 491,000 on Christmas Day and more than 457,000 on New Year’s Eve.

Direction Radio broadcasts daily through the audio streaming service TuneIn, iTunes Radio or a specially-designed app. There are two studios at the day centre in Epsom; one for broadcast, one for preparing pre-recorded content.

Some 19 DJs produce and present the shows reflecting all musical genres – from rock to pop, R&B and classical. Fenn explains that DJs have “a blank canvas” to create their slots, which last between one and three hours, and decide on everything from the jingle to the playlist. “I say to all the guys, ‘You do what you want to do with it’,” says Fenn. “It’s all their choice and that’s why it’s so diverse.”

Some presenters intersperse their playlist with chat and interviews – with local bands, for example – others stick to their preferred musical style with as little banter as possible. Most script their shows although some, such as Crompton, do it off the cuff. One DJ with Asperger syndrome presents his show by adopting the persona of a book or film character.

“He does all the voices. He goes into the zone and he is not fazed at all [by interruptions] – that’s ideal for radio,” says Fenn.

The station is Fenn’s brainchild. A Surrey Choices office administrator with a radio background, he lobbied his managers to create a station with and for people with disabilities. He installed an accessible broadcast system and equipment, such as simple mixing desks and computers with two screens to make editing easier.

While the two assistant station managers are paid, other participants pay £15 an hour to attend the day service, either privately or through their adult social care funding package.

In the future, Fenn would like to see the development of sister stations and see Direction Radio take on more paid members of staff from among the people it supports. The plan is also to build links with mainstream stations and promote the potential of its presenters.

The government aims to halve the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people, but progress is slow. The aim of Direction Radio is for people to develop the skills to improve their employment chances. “We’re trying to change the perception of an industry that is not known not to be [an employer] for people with disabilities,” says Jessica Williams, deputy business development director at Surrey Choices. “It’s also about people learning soft skills for work, like being on time.”

The most challenging aspect of Crompton’s job is “the moment when there is a bit of stress”, he says. “Is there a gap in between [songs] you have to fill? In radio you never have a gap – you always keep it flowing.”

Bell, who has a mild learning disability and cerebral palsy, recently interviewed two engineers from the PWL production company and the experience boosted his confidence. “That was my first interview. I was nervous but I nailed it,” he says. “We recorded it first and then we edited it. I enjoyed coming up with questions.”

Bell also won the station’s producer of the year award for 2016-17. What would he do if was not at the station? “I wouldn’t know everyone here – they are like my family. I would be at home doing nothing or going out and spending money, but I want to save and become more independent.”

Join the Social Care Network for comment, analysis and job opportunities, direct to your inbox. Follow us on Twitter (@GdnSocialCare) and like us on Facebook. If you have an idea for a blog, read our guidelines and email your pitch to us at socialcare@theguardian.com.

If you’re looking for a social care job or need to recruit staff, visit Guardian Jobs.