The Bishop of Willesden has opened a brand new YMCA West London supported accommodation facility that will support young people in need of a fresh start in life.

|PIC1|Roxeth Gate will provide a place to stay for young people who have had to leave home for whatever reason while full support and training will ensure that the residents are given every opportunity to move on with their lives.

The new facility is the fruit of a successful partnership between Christ Church Roxeth and the YMCA, which already has a lot of experience in managing supported housing schemes across west London.

And the commitment of the YMCA to each individual at the accommodation is long-term; once residents are ready to leave, the YMCA staff will further support the young residents by helping them to find more permanent homes.

The opening of the new accommodation was attended by the Bishop of Willesden, the Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, who made it official by cutting a red ribbon.

He said: "Projects like this are good for the community.

"The Church of England and the YMCA have a long track record of this kind of cooperation in North West London, and I am pleased that the Roxeth site is being used in this way."

Later in the day, the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Janet Cowan, with the help of local children, released balloons and addressed the celebration.

The young residents, between the ages of 16 and 35, will be housed across the hostel's 42 flats which can accommodate residents for up to two years.

The centre will be fully utilised by the wider community and from autumn 2006, the centre will offer activity classes for children aged from six months to teenagers. Roxeth Gate will also offer IT training, meeting rooms and a children's play area to local people and community groups.