TEN charities including Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support (HACS) will share more than £140,000 from rail firm Alstom.

The firm’s Community Project Fund Alstom’s aims to help social and environmental initiatives in the communities where it operates.

Alstom staff are encouraged to nominate good causes and then work with a charity or community group to complete an application for up to £30,000.

Funds awarded to HACS will help support an employability programme for 100 autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities.

The programme will involve job clubs, insight days and social sessions.

Katherine Eaton, adult services manager at HACS, said: “According to recent statistics, only three out of 10 autistic adults are in work.

“We will be running skills-based sessions on employment, from helping people write CVs to teaching wider skills like money management.”

Alstom is Ireland and the UK’s leading supplier of new trains and train services.