A CHARITY scheme is being launched to help people with learning disabilities get into the workplace.

Acorn Services aims to give them the skills and confidence to take on work opportunities in North Yorkshire.

Based in premises in Showfield Lane, Malton, the hands-on project will see people learning skills as they work on a recycling scheme.

The company will collect confidential documents to be shredded and cleaned - using the only detoxifying machine in the north of England - which will then be recycled and used for animal bedding.

Initially eight people will be employed, rising after a year to 12 and eventually it is hoped to take 21 people onto the scheme at a time.

The project will be carried out by people with disabilities. They will be responsible for jobs including working the shredder machine to answering the phone and using a computer.

It will work on a rolling basis with people staying until they are skilled and confident enough to go out into the workplace for real.

Voluntary and environmental co-ordinator Chris Holliday said: "We are going to open it up to other disadvantaged groups as well and the idea is to give people the skills to get work.

"We want to help people of all ages but we don't want to become a form of day centre or a holding house."

Business manager Howard Rose said: "It comes from problems which have been observed when people with disabilities go into the workplace and sometimes get lost in big organisations, and lose their confidence."

The scheme was launched with an open day to show the organisation's new facilities and to encourage local businesses to take part.

Chairman of the trustees Danny Finney said: "These projects will include voluntary work with older people in rural areas to combat isolation and loneliness, a befriending scheme for those socially disadvantaged, garden- ing services and helping the vulnerable during the winter months.

"We will provide all relevant training to meet available vacancies as well as provide on-going support for both employee and employer."

The regional development agency Yorkshire Forward has been the biggest contributor to the scheme with a £140,000 grant.

Acorn Services can be contacted on (01653) 699922.