Charity's arrival in the heart of town brings 30 new jobs to Bognor

Around 30 jobs have been created in central Bognor Regis by a charity's arrival in the heart of the community.

The extra employment is the result of the first presence of the Aldingbourne Trust in the town centre.

The staff are based at the trust's new Number 64 centre in the High Street, to boost the services it offers people with learning disabilities and their parents and carers.

Sue Livett, the trust's chief executive, said: "This is a progressive step forward for us. We are now in the heart of the community and more accessible for the clients we support."

The resource and drop-in venue takes up the entire first floor of the former Job Centre next to the NatWest bank.

The space accommodates the creative arts studio of the trust, its recruitment service, outreach services, supported living and residential services.

It also includes a drop-in centre for people with learning disabilities and those linked with them to seek information on available services and enjoy a cup of tea.

The facilities additionally boast a fully-equipped conference room which is available for hire.

The rooms were formally opened by Bognor's MP, Nick Gibb, last Friday.

He said: "Aldingbourne Trust is a worthwhile cause and it gives me great pleasure to be here today."

A previous visit to the trust's Aldingbourne Country Centre had left him impressed by its furniture restoration department and craft service, he added.

Mr Gibb followed the opening ceremony by admiring the work of students in the studio as well as chatting to the staff about their roles.

The High Street premises are the first town-centre address of the trust since the charity was created in 1978.

It complements the trust's houses in Hawthorn Road and its Aldingbourne Country Centre base just north of the A27.

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