Doorway and Reach Out, two Chippenham charities dealing with homelessness and substance dependencies, are delighted to announce that His Royal Highness, The Earl of Wessex will visit both the drop-in centres on Monday 23rd March 2009.
Doorway is a drop-in centre in Chippenham, North Wiltshire providing a friendly, safe place for adults who are homeless or who have complex issues, such as debt, mental health problems, substance use or poor life skills which are likely to affect their ability to acquire or sustain a tenancy.

Doorway will also be welcoming HM Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mr John Bush OBE; The High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Mrs Madeline Wilks; The Chairman of Wiltshire County Council, Brigadier Robert Hall; The Chairman of North Wiltshire District Council, Councillor Ian Henderson; The Mayor of Chippenham, Councillor Mrs Marian Stickland; and The Member of Parliament for the North Wiltshire Constituency, Mr James Gray MP

Reach Out is a community based project, working in Chippenham and Calne, that supports young people up to the age of 25 who have issues with their own or another person's substance misuse. Support is tailored to the individuals need and we work with clients at any stage of drug use.

The visit has been arranged through The Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon who have supported both groups via their grants programme which aims to help groups across the county combat disadvantage and build stronger communities.

Notes to editor - Doorway:
• Doorway (formerly known as North Wiltshire Homelessness Project) is a partnership between CVS North Wiltshire and The Salvation Army,Chippenham Corps, which began in 2003.
• Doorway is a drop-in for single adults aged 16+ who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
• Many have complex problems including mental health issues, poor education and life skills, drug/alcohol use and unemployment.
• The drop-in is open on Monday mornings from 9.30 to 12.30 pm (last meal at midday) and Thursday afternoons from 12.30 to 3.30pm (last meal at 3pm)
• It is situated in the The Salvation Army Hall, Chippenham.
• We offer freshly cooked meals, activities such as music improvisation, information and one to one support from trained staff
• Our aim is to help people who wish to change their lives to learn new skills and to increase their self-confidence in a friendly, safe environment.
• Doorway is funded by grants and donations from individuals, Churches and a variety of charitable and statutory sources

Notes to editor – Reach Out:
• We offer our services to young people at open access drop in centres currently in Chippenham and Calne.
• We are not a treatment agency but work with other agencies to provide a complete service.
• Opening times:- United Reformed Church St Mary's Street Chippenham Monday 1.00-4.30 & Friday 1.00-4.00; Baptist Church, Castle Street, Calne Tuesday 10.30-1.00pm & Wednesday 1.00pm-4.30
• We can offer our clients a safe place to chill out, basic advice and information, referral into treatment options, reflexology, and help with the day to day problems
• Art Craft and music at each session
• Reach Out is funded by Wiltshire County Council and a variety of Statuatory and Charitable Sources.

Notes to editor – The Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon:
• The Community Foundation for Wilthsire and Swindon supports voluntary groups and charitable organisations across Wiltshire and Swindon, raising funds locally from individuals, companies, trusts.
• The Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon gave out £725,000 in grants in 2007/2008 to 233 charitable and voluntary groups. All applications are assessed and monitored to ensure the grants are effective and benefit their community. The Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon has an endowment fund of £6m and manages funds on behalf of the Big Lottery and Fair Share.
• Community foundations are experts in revitalising local communities through effective charitable giving. Over the last 16 years well over 12,000 private sector donors have used the services of a community foundation to make sure that their giving has been invested to make the lasting difference that they wanted to see. Community foundations now manage close to £200m of committed endowed giving and it is estimated that most people in the UK will live or work within 20 miles of a charitable project that a community foundation has supported.