Published: Saturday, 28th February, 2009 4:45pm

New home for Age Concern at last

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AGE Concern no longer faces threats of being homeless after finding a new home in the Village Shopping Centre.

The Slough-based charity, which provides vital services to 150 older people every day, signed a contract with shopping mall bosses on

Tuesday.

This is a relief for charity chiefs who feared they would not have

anywhere to go when the group's

site in William Street, Slough, is bulldozed to make way for the Heart of Slough redevelopment.

Tracey Morgan, chief executive of Age Concern Slough and Berkshire East, said: "We're delighted that we've going into such a great town centre location. It is a big relief because it has been a gruelling processes finding a new home as there was a time when we were genuinely worried about what would happen to us. The Observer articles helped to highlight our fears and the council are now

being very supportive."

The 10-year lease will cost £130,000 annually for the top two floors off Slough High Street and another £50,000 annually for five years to cover the cost of the ground floor cafe. Bosses say the cafe should generate enough income to fund itself when the funding finishes.

People with mobility problems will still be able to access all the services thanks to a lift.

The site is currently being restructured until March and staff and users are expected to move in by April.

Ms Morgan added: "The top floors we're using are just a shell at the moment and haven't been used since the building was first built so it is being changed to fit our needs. We're all so excited at getting this new location in the heart of Slough."