A NEW home has saved a long-standing Swindon charity from closure - and now the team behind it can double the amount of people it helps.

Phoenix Enterprises trustees had to think fast when they were suddenly given two months’ notice at their old base just before Christmas and tried desperately to find somewhere else that had the space they needed.

After weeks of searching and visiting what trustee Mike Bowden called “grim, damp and wholly unsuitable buildings”, a stroke of luck saw them meet with the landlord of an Elgin Industrial Estate office.

The spacious premises has allowed them to offer help to 120 adults with learning disabilities and mental health conditions - twice their old capacity.

Swindon-born Paralympic tennis star Louise Hunt joined the charity's staff just before the big move. She said: “One of my friends was a landlord and he helped us get this one. It was luck really. If it wasn’t for him, we would be shut.

“The support the team gives me and other people to help reach their potential is amazing, they work so hard.

“The best bit of my job so far has been seeing one of our service users get a job at WHSmith – after his first shift, he didn’t need any support from me at all. Seeing him thrive in the role and be like a different and more confident person was lovely.”

The charity hopes to add a fitness area to keep users active, an extra kitchen to teach them culinary skills, and other facilities which can improve the employability, socialising and self-esteem of their clients.

Plus, Paralympic judo champion Chris Skelley has signed up to be a Phoenix Enterprises ambassador.

Chairman Emma Rees said: “To have these two wonderful sportspeople as part of our team and representing us shows that disability does not have to stop anyone from achieving their dreams.

“A permanent base is really important to us - we do everything under one roof and many of our members rely on a regular routine. It's been a struggle to get here but the extra space will allow us to expand our different levels of support. I want to help as many people as possible."

The charity is looking to recruit more volunteers who will help supervise activities and provide support to service users.

To help them settle into their new home, they are looking for donations of kitchen units, lockers, an oven, kettle, toasters, microwaves, work tables, meeting room tables and chairs, cutlery, plates, mugs, and a forklift.

Financial donations to cover rent and utility bills would also be welcome.