JOB opportunities for Wiltshire people with learning disabilities will receive a boost thanks to a £600,000 grant from the European Social Fund.

The money will be used to create 170 supported employment places for people with learning disabilities across the county over the next three years.

Ten job coaches will be employed to work with

employers across the county to provide suitable job opportunities.

Wiltshire County Council is responsible for managing the grant and has contracted CARE Rowde to run the project.

County council staff will be seconded to CARE for the three years of the project, which runs until 2007.

CARE is a national not-for-profit organisation with more than 38 years' experience providing services for people with disabilities.

As part of the latest contract, CARE Rowde will also manage the supported employment

service which the county council already operates for people with learning difficulties who live in Marlborough, Trowbridge and Salisbury.