POLICE are giving wholehearted support to plans to provide more support to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender young people in Salisbury.

Charity Rainbow Rooms UK hopes to provide a centre in the city where young people can get help and advice in an environment where they feel secure.

Police have welcomed the scheme, saying it is something that is long overdue and much needed within the town.

PCSO Gemma McIndoe, a diversity officer with Salisbury Police, said: “This centre will be fantastic because we don’t have anything like it in south Wiltshire and for it to be in Salisbury will be great.

“It is massively overdue. We don’t have anything at all that supports the whole of the LGBT community.”

The force has been working closely with the charity’s founder Will Clark and it is hoped that as well as supporting young people and their families, it will also give help to victims of homophobic crime.

The police will be able to refer those targeted to the Rainbow Rooms to give them help in the days following such a crime and to support them through the legal process.

PCSO McIndoe said: “We have Victim Support and we will still refer people to them, but it will be a great help to us to have something that can offer specialist support to victims of homophobic hate crime.”

Rainbow Rooms is aimed mostly at youngsters aged from 13 to 21 but is open to all and Mr Clark hopes it will encourage integration, opening its doors to friends and family as well.

Rainbow Rooms, which has been going for several years, gained charitable status in March but narrowly missed out on the deadline for getting Government funding. It is now looking to raise £450,000 to fund the centre.

Mr Clark is hoping to get corporate funding but, in the meantime, will be offering a regular service from the city’s Vestry nightclub before a gay night at the club.

Under 18s will not be permitted to stay for the later part of the event, the opening night of which is on Thursday but can get advice beforehand.

For more details, visit www.rainbowroomsuk.co.uk, call 01722 325122 or e-mail info.rruk@btconnect.com.