Royal visitor opens new respite centre in Waterlooville

By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jan 2016, 14:19 BST
Updated 29th Jan 2016, 16:25 BST
Prince Michael of Kent, right, at the opening of the Smile Centre in Waterlooville. Picture: Stuart AndersonPrince Michael of Kent, right, at the opening of the Smile Centre in Waterlooville. Picture: Stuart Anderson
Prince Michael of Kent, right, at the opening of the Smile Centre in Waterlooville. Picture: Stuart Anderson
CHILDREN with disabilities and their families will benefit from a new £4.4m respite centre, was opened today by Prince Michael of Kent.

The Smile Centre in Hemlock Road, Waterlooville has been built after four years of fundraising to give disabled children a break from their everyday lives.

Steve Clark, chairperson of Smile Support and Care, which runs the centre, said: ‘This centre fulfils a gap in the care that’s needed for children with disabilities, which is absolutely essential.

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‘Having Prince Michael here to open the centre is wonderful and very humbling.’

The centre includes eight rooms for children to stay, two family suites, a sensory room, therapy room, cafe and gardens.

It is expected the centre will cater for hundreds of children from Hampshire and surrounding counties each year.

Related topics:WaterloovilleKentHampshire