A Darlington organisation is helping the borough's employers to tap into an unused workforce.

Advance Employment was set up by Darlington Borough Council and The WM Morrison Enterprise Trust to help people with disabilities to find paid employment.

Since it was established in 1999, it has helped 40 disabled people find jobs. The organisation provides a specialist recruitment service to help employers used the disabled labour force.

It matches people with disabilities who want to work with the employers that want to give them the chance to work.

Mike Ellis, co-ordinator for the project, said: "Advance Employment is committed to finding the right individual, the right position within a company, ensuring that the person and the company receive the maximum benefits."

The scheme works by a system of Supported Employment, involving matching a disabled person with a suitable job, providing on-the-job training and any other additional support needed.

Mike said: "Given the chance to work, many disabled people prove that they can be a valued part of the workforce. Sometimes, it is just a case of a few alterations to the work station to enable them to do the jobs done by their able bodied colleagues.

"Advance Employment helps the disabled worker to receive training in the workplace specific to the job-in-hand and is given support by a job coach.

"Employers can be confident that, with the help of a job coach, the work will be completed to the standard they require.

"Experience of Supported Employment in the UK, US and Europe has proven that disabled people formerly denied the opport- unity of mainstream employment can successfully hold down jobs."