Gary Bainbridge was consumed with boredom attending a day centre for people with learning difficulties - until he got a job with Durham County Council. He tells Lindsay Jennings how it has given him valuable independence.

IN a side room at the drop-in centre in Consett, there is a conversation going on about the smoking ban. Gary Bainbridge, Les Shaw and Brian Smith, who work for Durham County Council, are sitting around a big table wondering how one of the service users will cope when the ban comes in. He's 60, has learning disabilities, and may not understand at first that he won't be able to smoke anywhere on council property.

As someone who has learning disabilities, Gary, 39, is the perfect advocate to liaise with him.

"We need to explain to him what it means and what we can do about it so we're working with him," says Gary, who's dressed in grey trousers and a trendy pin-striped shirt and tie.

It is clear that Gary relishes his role. Only 12 months ago, he was travelling on the service bus to a day centre for people with learning disabilities. Today, thanks to his job with the council, his confidence - and independence - has soared.

Gary was born paralysed down his left side and has epilepsy. His disability left him with speech difficulties and problems walking. "It means some people think I'm drunk when I walk," he says.

He grew up in Esh Winning, near Durham, and attended a day centre for 17 years but, with only a mild disability compared with other users, he found his mind was never challenged.

Asked what he used to do there, he replies simply: "Nothing."

"When I first started we did contract work. You'd get a small amount of money for it - £3 - it might get you a pint of lager. I used to get so frustrated when I was doing it, you had to put screws into plug sockets.

"I'm not trying to be big headed, but I was the most independent one there and I used to ask the manager if I could do something different because I didn't want to do it every day."

It is work, says Les, a project manager with day services improvement, that is seen as being therapeutic. But the reality is different.

"What we're trying to do is treat people equally so if they're doing a job they should be paid for it like everyone else," he says.

The manager at the day centre asked Gary if he could write and do sums.

"I said 'I'm an excellent reader and for the sums I'll buy a calculator'," he says, smiling. "I ended up doing the tuck shop for service users and I used to count all the money up and take it down to the bank myself, so staff did trust me."

His confidence growing, Gary began carrying out voluntary work and approached Les to see if there were any jobs going at the council. And when there were none, he rang up a few weeks later and said: "Any jobs yet?"

In July last year, he began work for the council. Gary's full title - although it would be difficult to fit on a business card - is day services improvement, service user coordinator, based in Derwentside.

It means he now goes into the day centres he once attended to help give a voice to people with learning disabilities.

"I get all the points of view of service users and I also attend meetings, like at County Hall, and go along to the Learning Disabilities Parliament, where if you've got a problem you can discuss it there.

"I've sat on panels when people like Mark Lloyd (the council's chief executive) had their job interviews. I asked him what experience he had working with people with learning disabilities."

As part of the Government's Valuing People strategy, council services have changed for people with learning disabilities, with the closure of some day centres. The aim is to move people away from the repetitive contract work of old in favour of them getting out into the community, trying college courses, attending classes or getting jobs.

"Gary's role is vital in helping to secure the views of people," says Les. "We have people who have mild to moderate levels of disability and those with high levels, but people can still receive the care they need and yet be part of the community. There's nothing to stop a person who has a learning disability accessing things in the community, whether it's a tea dance or an art club.

"There is one lady here who is very keen on sewing and knitting and she had been adopted by a local sewing and knitting group whereas, in the past she would have sat in the day centre all day."

As part of his job, Gary has been through the same employment and induction training as everyone else.

"As an employee he has access to the same procedures and policies too, hence the debate on the smoking," says Les. Both Les and Gary agree that he has changed since he took on the job.

"I'm working with people who I like and it's given me a lot of independence," he says. "I even do presentations now in front of councillors and headteachers. Last week I got asked to open a service users' conference at County Hall."

"His independence is an interesting one," interjects Les. "When I first got to know Gary, he needed a lift everywhere. He actually told the local MP Hilary Armstrong once, when she mentioned about her chauffeur, that he had three.

"But his confidence and independence have grown. He's got a bus pass and he doesn't need lifts. He's become an individual instead of just being one of the crowd and he's been accepted as an equal.

"He's also become more well-known in the community."

Gary lives with his mum and spends weekends at his girlfriend Michelle's house. Michelle, who is also an epileptic, works full-time as a care assistant.

"I've got a very understanding family and especially my mam. Not all service users' parents let them do things whereas my family do," says Gary.

He's a huge Sunderland fan and enjoys going to matches when he can. And as well as helping other people with learning disabilities, he writes his own blog online and types up weekly updates of his work which he emails to Les.

Our interview is almost at an end. There's more discussions to be had about smoking. But before we finish, Gary adds that he's hoping his job will be boosted from 16 hours a week to 25.

"I think I'll be around for a long time," he says, shooting a smile at Les.

"I like working with people with learning disabilities and I like getting paid for it too."