THIS week, we are shouting about a Gorse Hill community centre which has supported people with learning disabilities in every aspect of their lives for the last 34 years.

The Open Door Centre offers help and advice to more than 100 people who have struggled to adapt to the wider world after leaving education and need support and guidance to gain their independence.

Members can learn different skills like cooking, photography and computing and they are given an opportunity to make new friends, the confidence to catch a bus and the chance to go on a fun day out.

They also run small cafés in the Open Door Centre and Liden Library, work on their own vegetable allotment, and have a say in the day-to-day running of the building that means so much to them. The charity's choir won an award at the Swindon Music Festival and some staff and members attended last year's Pride of Britain awards.

In addition to providing a place for socialising and self-improvement, staff and volunteers often go above and beyond to ensure the people they support feel safe and comfortable.

Senior staff member Courtenay Marchant said: "We are like family to the people who visit our centre, some of whom have no family so we step up to fill that role, it's like a sub-community in Swindon. We arrange medical appointments, we act as travel agents, we help with housing issues, we've arranged funeral services, we do everything.

"It's a huge undertaking and we have a very serious job to do with a never-ending schedule of events. The difference this team has made to people's lives is mind-blowing, they work unbelievably hard.

"There are great schools in Swindon that support young people with learning disabilities but after they finish school, there's not a lot of help available and it can be scary and uncomfortable for them. This centre gives them a place where they can be safe, secure and independent, where they don't feel like the odd one out and they can go into the wider community but step back into this safe zone if they feel overwhelmed."

For several years, the charity has received £50,000 annually in funding from Swindon Borough Council to provide personal development lessons to people who use the centre. This year, the team had to go through a tendering process for the money rather than have it given to them and another good cause won the funds instead. Despite this, the team are in no danger of stopping their vital services and have enough money to keep going for at least a year.

Courtenay added: "We were surprised by this but that's what the council have decided and we bear no hard feelings, it is a setback but we are just getting on with what we do as normal and have to look for alternative sources of funding. We are eternally grateful to organisations that support us, like the Kentwood Choir. We are not desperate for money but people can donate if they wish and we can visit businesses with a presentation about the work we do if they want to find out more about us."

Visit theopendoorcentre.co.uk or call 01793 512357

Is there something about Swindon that you want to shout about? It could be a well-known charity, an under-appreciated community group, a kind-hearted resident that helps out around town, anything and anyone who makes a positive difference to the lives of people in Swindon and deserves a bit of time in the spotlight. If you have any ideas for candidates who could be in Shout About Swindon features, call 01793 501734 or email daniel.angelini@newsquest.co.uk