A CHARITY that helps some of the most vulnerable members of our society is to open a new drop-in centre.

The Splitz Parenting Alone Support Group hopes the new £15,000 centre, at Duke Street, Trowbridge, will be up and running by Easter weekend. Manager Fran Lewis said: "It is lovely. I am so excited about it. When we started we had about 100 referrals a year, last year we got 450 and we are still operating from one room."

Splitz has been providing support for lone parents in the county for the past 16 years, operating from a room at Bridge House, Stallard Street. With just 12 staff and operating through home visits and over the telephone, the charity provides invaluable support to mums and dads who find themselves coping alone.

Mrs Lewis said: "Our service users deserve the best. They are lovely and so good with their babies but they need some support and encouragement."

Many of the users of the service are young mums and it is hoped the centre can encourage them to regain their independence by encouraging them to do voluntary work or learn computer skills.

"Just because a girl gets pregnant it doesn't mean they have failed. It is not that they have failed the education system it is the education system that has failed them. "They might develop and aversion to the system but if you say just come along, have a chat and a cup of tea and some fun then they will and they can learn.

"When you are on your own you can feel as though life is stagnant and you are not worthwhile and that is not the case." Every person referred to the service is allocated their own support worker and the charity holds various workshops.

As well as the support given to hundreds of single parents the charity has also launched a groundbreaking initiative to try and tackle domestic violence by educating the men involved.

It runs a 30-week free, voluntary perpetrators programme, which encourages men to relearn their behaviour and think through the effects it has had on their whole family. "These men have been brilliant. It takes a lot to stand up and admit I did this terrible thing' and to try to change."

The charity has also joined forces with others in the county to launch a new helpline, Community4, aimed at any adult who needs help, which is due to be launched in July.

Work is ongoing to convert the new Duke Street centre and the charity is in desperate need of funds to ensure it is well equipped and decorated. To find out more about Splitz visit www.splitz.org