Community have taken caring centre to its heart
7:50am Tuesday 23rd July 2013 in News
By Matthew Edwards
THE door is always open at a charity that has been taken in by the community of Gorse Hill.
The Open Door Centre is based at St Barnabas’ Church Hall and has been supporting adults with learning difficulties since its launch in 1985.
It has supported hundreds of people in Swindon, and with funding becoming harder to get hold of, it is relying more on people to support it than ever before.
It is not stopping the centre from being busy, though, and many of the service users have seen their lives turned around by the support they are given and the chance to socialise with other people.
Craig Hiscock, senior support worker, said: “The service is still really well used and we are busy all the time, but we are just facing a bit of uncertainty with regards to funding. I think the centre means a lot to the people who use it, not only for the social side of things but also for the help we provide them in their lives.
“The community of Gorse Hill have really embraced us. It took a while for people to get used to us being here but now you see the community really looking out for our members and the community are quite protective. We are proud to be part of it.”
When Paul Walter, 64, of Stratton, first attended the centre he was very shy and used to break into tears when people tried to speak to him.
Now, thanks to the support and care he has received at the centre, you can’t stop him talking, and he is happy to try his hand at any task – from cleaning to cooking.
He said: “I think the centre is wonderful for the work it does.
“The centre has changed my life. I never used to leave the house, but I am a lot more confident going out now and speaking to people and now I am able to live on my own.
“I do a lot when I am here, I am usually the first one in and I help with the cleaning. I also help with the cooking and all these skills I can use at home.
“The staff here are brilliant and it is a really friendly place to be.”
Mary Cryan, 45, of Rodbourne is also a regular user of the centre and said she has enjoyed some of the holidays they are taken on.
She said: “The centre has helped me a lot and I love being able to come here.
“I don’t get out a lot but when I come here I have got all my friends and the staff are really helpful.
“I always look forward to the holidays and have been to Ibiza and Benidorm which were really fun.”
The charity is looking for a trustee to help with marketing and raising the profile of the charity, as well as volunteers.
For more information, visit www.theopendoorcentre.co.uk
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