SWINDON charity Restore has welcomed new project manager Ian Howard to lead the volunteers at the site in Whitbourne Avenue.

The 50-year-old former teacher started work last month and has already started on new ideas to continue to develop the charity and help it grow.

He said: “I would like to ensure that Restore meets the needs of local people through training and support.

“Among my first projects are to develop the garden space to encourage local people to make use of their gardens and to develop school holiday-based activities to bring parents and children into the Restore building.”

Ian also spent some time running the Filling Station soup kitchen in Wroughton, and decided to come to Restore so he could continue to help the town’s most needy.

As well as selling second-hand and restored goods, such as furniture, crockery and toys, the project also carries out electrical testing, creates bird boxes and other woodwork as well as furniture repairs and grows a variety of vegetables and plants.

The shop is open every weekday from 10am to 4pm.

For information email info@swindonrestore.co.uk.