AN information centre that was born at an old school is celebrating five years of serving all sections of Swindon society.

Organisations based at Sanford House have praised the opportunities the charity hub has given them since 2014 when it started as an adult health and wellbeing hub.

It is now home to 12 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

Royal Voluntary Service manager Linda Scott said: “Before we moved here we only had one small desk in a hospital, with no internet access or anything.

"It was basically unworkable. Since we’ve been here, we have had access to all these things, and it means we have been able to reach more people in the town.”

"We’ve been based here a year now, and it’s brilliant because a lot of the other agencies we work with are in the same building. You can just pop along and have a chat, and it’s really aided partnership working between us all. This creates a better outcome for the people we’re helping in Swindon.”

Her organisation supports individuals recovering in their own homes after leaving hospital, and almost 250 service users were helped in the 2018-2019 financial year.

Wiltshire Law Centre is also based in the building, and provides free confidential advice on housing, ant-social behaviour injunctions, employment, welfare benefits and debt.

The Law Centre has particularly benefitted from the low rents available in Sanford House.

Richard Hazell, senior housing solicitor at the organisation said: “It has been wonderful to be part of the voluntary sector hub. This is a one stop shop for referrals, and provides holistic help to the people of Swindon.”

Fiona Prinzi Deputy CEO at Swindon Carers Centre which provides help and support to the 21,000 carers in Swindon, echoed these sentiments.

“Being here allows for all the clients we work with to have a more co-ordinated approach. It was definitely a brilliant move for us as an organisation to come here,” she said.

“We’re able to use all the facilities this old school has to offer, and everyone knows where it is.

“The five years have gone by so fast, it makes you stop and think how far we have come in the time. Sanford House certainly is something to celebrate, something unusual for the town.

It’s becoming self-sustaining and I really can’t imagine the town centre without it,” she added.

Richard Hill, chief executive officer for Voluntary Action Swindon, which manages the building for Swindon Borough Council, said: “Sanford House is a real success story.

"We are certainly unusual as there aren’t many organisations like ours in the area.”