SWINDON’s Booth House resettlement centre, which helps people who have been homeless to rebuild their lives, is celebrating its 10th birthday this week, which was marked by a recent open day.

The Salvation Army runs Booth House and the centre has helped 700 people to turn their lives around since it opened in 2007.

Liz Osborne, the manager of Booth House, said: “I started working at Booth House soon after it opened 10 years ago and since then I have been privileged to witness around 100 people moving into employment, and around 700 people regain their confidence, learn new skills and move into a new home.”

Booth House offers a range of support services and activities for its residents and also runs two social enterprise businesses, The Sandwich People and Recycles, which reinvest any profits they make for the benefit of the residents of Booth House.

Recycles sells refurbished second hand bikes and also provides servicing and repair.

The Sandwich People makes sandwiches and other fresh food for its buffet services and its delivery round in Swindon.

Booth House residents who are involved with recycles and The Sandwich People learn bicycle mechanics and catering skills as well as how to run a business.

It celebrated its first decade of service to Swindon with an open day on Thursday, July 6.

A work of art made up of glass tiles decorated by residents and local artist Sasha Ward was unveiled at the celebrations.

The glass wall recognises the support of many local organisations and individuals who have donated resources to the centre over the past 10 years.

Guests at the anniversary celebration included Angus Macpherson, the police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon and Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon. Musician Bob Bowles also entertained guests.