A COMMUNITY centre is set to expand after being offered new premises at a peppercorn rent.

The Welcome Centre in Park North will open up a satellite centre in the former Park South Infants School premises in Priory Road.

Staff hope to have the centre open by September and are hold-ing an open day on July 22 at the Reuben George Building in Cavendish Square between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

It will give residents the chance to have their say on what they think the centre should offer.

The Welcome Centre is well known in Park North for its work in the community.

Its activities include drop in sessions, a women's group, cook-ery classes, English and maths courses for adults, a toddler group and a homework group.

The centre was set up to serve the whole of the Parks and is keen to attract more interest from Park South.

It has been awarded £11,500 of European Social Fund money for the new project.

Project manager Lyn Thompson said: "The work starts on July 22 when we will let local people know what the plans are and find out what they would like to see there.

"There could be all sorts of things on offer, within reason, but it will be activities like a lunch club for families, a lot of life skills classes teaching, for example, DIY.

"We won't be offering basic skills classes because Swindon College offers them on the same site, and while we have an idea of what works there will be some flexibility about it.

"Our main aim with the courses is not to get people back into work immediately but to gradually improve their confidence to a point where they are ready to return."

In January 2000 Park South Infants and Junior Schools were amalgamated and became the Oaktree Nursery and Primary School. This resulted in the infants school building no longer being needed for educational purposes.

Since then a proposal to turn it into an art music centre with recording studio fell through and though parts of the building are now occupied by Swindon College and council departments a large section of it remains unoccupied.

For more information on the Welcome Centre call Swindon 486806.

The Welcome Centre, in Lynd-hurst Crescent, encourages visitors from all walks of life.

It is at pains to point out that it isn't just there for under-privileged children or parents who can't cope. People come for its play sessions and advice on financial, personal, housing and family matters.