THE Trinity Centre, the drop-in centre for the socially excluded, in Winchester is extending its opening hours.

From last Monday, the centre in Durngate Place opens from 9am-6pm Monday to Friday.

David Walton, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said: “We have seen a sharp increase in the number of people in Hampshire accessing our services.

“We now regularly have between 50 and 70 people attending at the drop-in in Winchester every day.”

The centre provides a warm and safe place for people during the day. There is hot food and washing facilities and a wide range of skills-based classes and activities.

“Longer opening hours will allow our staff to work more closely with more individuals to help them through the situations they find themselves in,” added Mr Walton.

“The staff and volunteers at Trinity Winchester have been absolutely fantastic. Without their hard work and dedication we wouldn’t be able to do any of this. During the very cold snap in December and January, staff also opened the centre at weekends, on a voluntary basis, in their own time.”

The centre is keen to boost its charitable revenue. Over half of its funding comes from local government, but this will be reduced next year as part of budget cuts.

All the rest of the money required to run the centre comes from charitable foundations and personal donations. For more information on how help Trinity Winchester with a donation contact Jodie on 07929 247 460 or visit www.trinitywinchester.org.uk.