A charity helping adults with learning disabilities is asking people to sponsor a brick at their state-of-the-art community centre.

Ellingham Employment Services is crowdfunding for their new facilities due to open in December which will enable them to cater for more people.

Founded in Ellingham Road, Leytonstone in 1985, the charity provides training in woodwork, IT, media and cooking for 75 people.

After 30 years of holding classes in leaking, dilapidated portacabins, Ellingham was in “desperate” need of a new building.

It secured a Big Lottery grant of £700,000 and began work on the facilities earlier this year.

An additional £150,000 is now needed to furnish the centre which features a media suite, classrooms, and a hall and café which will be open to the public.

Manager Rosemary Clark said: “The building will help us meet the demand for the services we provide.

“We will be able to cater for 100 people.

“We are helping people to progress and maximise their skills and it helps prevent social isolation.

“There’s lots of people who need these services are there are not enough places providing them.

“We are a stepping stone for some people as they head into the world of work and others stay with us long term.”

The charity has launched an appeal, Building for the Future, to encourage people to donate £10 for a brick or £20 to have their name appear on the centre’s wall of honour.

Companies can also have their logos on display at the community hub for £100.

The charity will also hold cake sales and quiz nights to meet the cost of the project and employee Miles is looking for sponsors for his upcoming Santa Run in December.

Ms Clark added: “This project is vital. There is acute deprivation in the area and our service is really needed.

“We have accredited courses here and if there is anything the clients want to learn we cater for this.

“They will make gardening ornaments at the woodwork classes and sell them and we will encourage parents in the area to drop in to our café.

“All the money we raise goes back into the pot as we are an enterprise.”

For more information about how to donate to Ellingham’s fundraising appeal click here.