Two social services' training initiatives are to benefit from more than £230,000 of European cash - despite cuts to other care services.

Grants from the European Social Fund will help pay for a scheme to train social care workers in Oxfordshire and set up an employment service for adults.

The announcement came after social services chiefs agreed to make £3.2m budget cuts next year as part of a plan to reduce spending by £10.5m over the next three years.

As a result, Kidlington family centre, an old people's home and three respite care centres for disabled children, are to close.

A total of 180 jobs - including those of 24 family workers - will be axed.

Oxfordshire County Council is to spend £51,000 of European cash on training 40 social care workers by June 2000 under the Training for Care programme.

And 53 adults with learning difficulties will benefit from a £180,000 grant to the Right Employment project.

The scheme helps people get work by giving individual support and training in social and employment skills.

Liberal Democrat social services spokesman Cllr Janet Godden said: "These grants are very welcome at a time when we are receiving less money from the Government."

Story date: Saturday 23 January

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