ADULT Social Care in Darlington has launched an event aiming to get residents with learning disabilities into work.

The “Getting a Job” Fair is the first of its kind and was organised from suggestions by disabled young people, facing employment barriers.

A number of organisations, including Daisy Chain and Innovation held stalls at the town’s Dolphin Centre, where individuals were given opportunities to help them in finding employment.

Innovation staff supervisor, Suzie Patterson said: “We are a private company who supports people with learning difficulties.

“If individuals want to prepare to find employment we give them the tools, it could be someone who wants to work in a café but struggles to make a cup of coffee. We start right from the bottom ensuring they can work their way up.”

More than 80 individuals with learning impairments and autism attended the event, one man currently working with the Links project in Darlington said how he had attended the event to learn new skills, which he could use in an office job.

Darlington Borough Council's head of services at adult social care, Kevin Kelly, said: “This started from discussions with disabled young people who had hopes and aspirations of getting into paid employment but were finding it difficult to make the step.

“One of the things we’ve done is gathered together different organisations and providers who will assist people, giving them the skills and support needed to make the change. Individuals will be matched up with providers and then, through a step-by-step programme will gain knowledge for employment.”