A FORMER council employee wants to set up a day centre to help people with learning disabilities gain work experience.

Jeffrey Spence wants to use redundancymoney to create a centre for up to 25 adults and young people aged 16 or over, who will be trained in painting and decorating, woodwork and outdoor maintenance, as well as arts and crafts.

Mr Spence, a day service officer for Darlington Borough Council for more than 13 years, wants to start the venture after four schemes for people with learning disabilities closed as a result of Government cuts, forcing the council to axe £20m from its budget over four years.

One of the schemes which was cut was a training and therapy scheme which was managed by Mr Spence, who lives in Hartlepool.

Now, he wants to transform a former shop on Cleveland Trading Estate, in Darlington, into the day centre, and has submitted a planning aplication for a change of use at Unit 3, Lloyds Court.

The scheme will aim to help trainees operate safely in the workplace, gain an understanding of the world of work, and gain skills and a portfolio.

Mr Spence said: "The overall aim of the scheme is to improve the life chances of people with learning disabilities through in-house training and therapeutic activities, which will lead to the trainee widening their participation, and being socially included in their local environment in relation to lifelong learning."

The plans can be viewed at darlington.gov.uk