|TOP|Their Royal Highnesses the Earl and Countess of Wessex officially have opened a new Salvation Army refuge in Birmingham to support women and children suffering from domestic violence.

The new refuge was opened Thursday by the royal couple who were able to meet with both residents and staff at the family centre which will provide temporary furnished accommodation in a safe and supportive environment for the women and their children.

The Earl and Countess were given a tour of the facilities at the centre by The Salvation Army’s Director of Social Services for the West Midlands, Ian Dixon, after meeting with key people involved in the building and running of the centre.

The royal couple were shown the computer room where children can go to practise their computer skills. They were also able to meet the mums and toddler group and visit two families in their flats.

|AD|A mulberry tree was planted by the Countess in the grounds before she was joined by the Earl of Wessex in chatting with some of the children as they played in the centre’s playground.

The £3.9million centre will house up to 16 families, including 62 children, as well as four single women, in self-contained flats and bed-sits, including two units for the disabled.

Following the unveiling of a plaque by the royal couple, the Earl of Wessex commended the role of the parties involved in building the refuge which he said was “so very much needed”.

He wished “the best of luck” for all the residents in the future and expressed his hope for the refuge to provide the women and children with “a suitable home to restore your faith and trust and to build hope for the future”.

The women and children can expect to stay at the centre, developed in partnership with the Salvation Army Housing Association (SAHA), for three to six months while they wait to be re-housed.

“The Salvation Army is delighted to have this wonderful centre that will help us to meet the needs of women and children who deserve a better and brighter future,” said Ian Dixon, Director of Social Services for The Salvation Army in the West Midlands. “Here women can remain in a safe place until they have the resources, the resilience and the self confidence to move on. We are particularly grateful for the generous support of donors, local agencies, builders, contractors and the Birmingham community.”

Peter Jones, Head of Investment for the Housing Corporation in the West Midlands, said: “This project is another example of how our funding is used to work alongside our partners, Birmingham City Council and SAHA, to build a high quality and safe environment for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. I am really pleased that £1.6m of Housing Corporation funding will contribute to their independence and provide them with a fresh start in life.”

Nigel Parrington of SAHA said: “We are delighted with the high quality standard of this new development, which has helped create a secure and self contained accommodation for 16 families. The support from staff and the mutual support that exists between a diverse group of residents has helped to create a community within a community which will play a major part in helping residents and children stabilise their lives and establish relationships with others.”