A homeless hostel in Swindon is giving its residents the chance to better themselves, as well as a roof over their heads. ANDY BLIZZARD reports.

IF YOU have never lived in one, what do you think goes on inside a homeless people's hostel?

A fair bit of watching TV, perhaps? Or sitting around and smoking?

Most of us would probably not think of residents taking classes in how to read and write, or finding out more about the Internet or computer spreadsheets.

But that's exactly what they do at Davis House, the Salvation Army centre in central Swindon.

The centre proudly opened its Skills Development Centre on Thursday, a computer suite which is at the heart of its efforts to provide a better future for its residents.

Seven of the eight computers in this little room have Internet portals, but for many at Davis House the PCs are also doors to a more successful and stable life.

In a programme run in conjunction with Swindon College, residents are using the computers to learn valuable skills in preparation of their return to the world of work.

At one terminal, a former farm worker is learning about computer packages that are widely used in offices, like Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as the Internet and file management.

Others are learning the basics of building databases as part of the nationally recognised CLAIT (Computer Literacy and Information Technology) course. And, as part of its policy of allowing residents to grow and develop in every way, Davis House offers more courses in arts and crafts, anger and stress management, alcohol awareness and drug advice.

Robert Looney, who co-ordinates the college tutors working with the homeless residents, describes the programme as "good, important work."

And Helen Robinson, who co-ordinates the Salvation Army's basic skills programme, says the courses are intended to help residents keep making progress at a difficult period in their lives.

"It's to improve their chances when they move on from somewhere like Davis House; to improve the quality of their lives and to move on from the person they were when they came here," she said.

Opening the Skills Development Centre, the Salvation Army's assistant social services secretary, Major Keith Lloyd, says Davis House has always had a reputation for innovation.

"Here we are continuing in a long tradition of providing homes and working with the people who come to the centre to enable them to develop skills," he said.

"You have come to us with all that you are, and we really do believe that here you are going to be assisted to develop," he told computer students as he presented them with their course completion certificates.

The Davis House skills unit is one of just seven skills projects the Salvation Army is running in the UK, and the charity also funds a part-time art worker and a dedicated basic skills worker to support students in Swindon.

Money for the project comes from a Government initiative to build up basic skills among the seven million people in the UK who find it hard to read or write, or use information technology.

But this money is due to run out in March next year, and Davis House's skills worker, Alan Baldwin, has approached a number of major local companies in a bid to secure the unit's future.

WH Smith is among the firms who have helped out the unit to date.

Anyone who can help with funding should contact Mr Baldwin on Swindon 531107 or send him an email at alanbaldwinuk@yahoo.com