Royal Opening of The Slater Centre, New Greenham Park, Newbury

Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex has today officially opened The Slater Centre at New Greenham Park, a £2m purpose built building which provides training, administration, workshop and storage space for several local voluntary organisations.

The Countess of Wessex, who is the Patron of Mencap, was given a tour of the 18,000 sq ft building by Sir Peter Michael, chairman of Greenham Common Trust and Patrick Slater, chairman of West Berkshire Mencap and was introduced to representatives from the Trust, the organisations that occupy the new facility and some of the trainees who attend the Slater Centre.

A number of community organisations and charities now use the Slater Centre to provide community support and real working opportunities along with training and support for the disadvantaged. These organisations include Alzheimer's Society, Home Start West Berkshire, West Berkshire Community Furniture Project, West Berkshire Mencap and Link Up, a partnership between West Berkshire Mencap, Newbury College and West Berkshire Council, which provides work experience and training projects to young adults with learning difficulties.

The Slater Centre was funded by Greenham Common Trust, owner of New Greenham Park, to enable local voluntary groups to work together and share information, resources, accommodation and infrastructure. The Trust believes that the Slater Centre will develop collaboration between the groups that use and work within it.

Stuart Tagg, chief executive of Greenham Common Trust, says: “The aim of the Slater Centre was to enable co-operation and mutual support within the voluntary sector, providing financial benefits to the organisations through the sharing of resources. This will allow thousands of pounds to be diverted to frontline services and provide a vital resource to those in the community that rely on the crucial services of these charities.”

For more information contact Andrew Barber on 01635 817444 or e-mail andrew@greenham-common-trust.co.uk