A NEW £500,000 centre in Swindon, designed to give children a better start in life, has been officially unveiled.

The Robert Le Kyng Children's Centre, in Westcott Place, was opened by Dr David Barnardo, the current chairman of trustees of the national charity and a direct descendant of its founder, Dr Thomas Barnardo.

Although it is a world away from the orphanages that were closed decades ago, the new facility will offer a wide range of family services all under one roof, including parenting advice, a crche, links to local health services, such as support to stop smoking and children's speech and language therapy.

The centre will also provide parents with help in seeking work and training, while a nursery is due to open later this year.

Barnardo's South West has worked on the project with partners Swindon Council and Swindon Sure Start.

"The building started to be put up in January and the project has grown from there," said Di Drinkwater, the centre's co-ordinator.

"I would describe it as a one-stop shop for parents and the community, providing parental support.

"There are about 300 families in this ward that we will be able to help and parents have been involved in the recruitment of staff and with the choosing of fixtures and fittings for the centre.

"Parents can get involved in a whole range of ways and we have also got a volunteer programme, which has seen two volunteers come forward so far."

Dr Barnardo added: "Barnardo's aims to help families who are struggling and children who are struggling in their families.

"One way Barnardo's works is by running children's centres and we have a long tradition of helping with issues such as single parenting, children with particular needs and issues such as alcohol and child abuse.

"The facilities here are lovely and being adjacent to a primary school is always the best location.

There seems to be a real buzz about the place and that bodes very well for the future."

Coun Garry Perkins, Swindon Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "The opening of this new centre will help us to reach vulnerable and disadvantaged children in need of support but, more significantly, the services available will help Barnardo's to work directly with parents, who have the greatest influence to change the lives of their children.

"I hope that everybody who is struggling with family issues comes along and introduces themselves, so they can see what the centre has to offer."

Mother-of-two Helen Green, of Curtis Street, was one of the parents who popped down to the opening of the new centre.

And she said she was impressed by what she saw.

"I think the facilities are amazing," she said.

"I'm planning to come down for the music sessions on Tuesdays and the Tea And Toast on Thursdays."