A CHARITY shop manned by people with severe learning difficulties will soon open in Swindon.

The store, which will open in the tented market in the town centre on June 7, is thought to be the first in the county and is aimed at helping the members of the Upham Road Centre integrate with the local community.

Linda Ramsey, who is the team leader of the Swindon Borough Council run Willow Unit at the centre, said the project was crucial for the group members to feel part of society.

She said: “These adults have very complex learning disabilities and we needed to find a way to make them part of the community so that people can accept them.

“We have affiliated with Barnado’s and will be raising cash for the local community.

“We started with a tea rooms at a church in Gorse Hill, but we needed something that would involve the members of our group more fully with the society around them.

“The learning difficulties they have cover a very wide spectrum but I am hoping that they will benefit massively from this community project.

“This is definitely a first for Swindon and perhaps even in the wider country.

“We are all so excited about this - it is going to be a great programme.”

As well as giving the service users a chance to mingle with the community, it will also give them the responsibility of having a job and allow the general public to interact with them and get to know them on a regular basis.

The centre’s joined forces with the children’s charity Barnado’s and all the money raised in the shop will go to them.

They are now asking for people to make donations to the store and are on the look out for quality second hand clothing and bric-a-brac.

Anyone who is able to help, can contact the centre on 01793 535431.