A MENTAL HEALTH charity is worried at over plans to axe a Huddersfield day centre giving people vital work skills.

Vocational Enterprises on Chapel Street, off Chapel Hill, was set-up to help people suffering from `enduring' conditions - including schizophrenia and severe depression - to gain confidence and learn new skills.

Now carers' group Making Space has stepped in to ask health chiefs to halt the decision to change the service.

The move comes as the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust - which is responsible for the centre - reviews day services across Kirklees and Calderdale.

In a letter to health bosses the charity's Huddersfield branch said: "People with mental health issues need to have a purpose in their lives. VE provides support for many service users, giving them structure to their day.

"We strongly believe that VE has been a conduit for moving service users into paid work. Members of our group have experience of this being the case.

"Can we be assured that a decision will not be made until the review has been carried out and sufficient places in alternative day services have been secured?"

The centre offers 60 service users the chance to learn skills in joinery, computing and packing.

A trust spokeswoman said the review - being carried out by an external company - would revamp the way day services were offered across the whole area.

She added: "The early indication is that VE will not stay as it is, but that doesn't mean other things can't be tapped into.

"It is more likely that service users will be able to access real paid work, the education process or leisure facilities.

"There is also a focus on social enterprise which might involve elements of VE," she added.

The spokeswoman said the review would run until June and that changes would probably not take place until later in the year.

The centre's users' group is calling on people who are worried about the plans to email them at veclients@yahoo.co.uk