MORE than 250 people have been helped by a homeless charity which opened last year in Oxford’s Old Fire Station.

Education charity Crisis Skylight opened at the George Street venue last November following a £3.5m revamp.

Crisis director Kate Cocker said: “It’s gone well. We have had two full terms now and we have had over 250 people come in and take part in the classes.

“We have had 12 people that have gone into jobs and 11 people move in to volunteering opportunities and people have started gaining qualifications.”

Ms Cocker added: “We aim to be an inspiring place.

“We want to give people opportunities to change their lives.”

Crisis hosts a special cafe wherehomeless people can gain work experience and it provides, dance, art and English and maths classes.

Among those it has helped is Kate, 30, who has been at risk of being made homeless.

At an event last month to celebrate its first six months, she told more than 200 people about how the organisation had helped her.

She said: “When I came here in December I had been suffering with depression for a long time and I had lost all my confidence.

“Now after two terms in Crisis I was confident enough to stand up in front of 200 people. I’m a completely different person.”

She added: “Even in six months they have had a huge impact. They have had lots of people through the doors.

“It’s offering a fantastic service for people who might not have had opportunities for education.”

Rachel Neal, who works as a co-ordinator with the homeless at the centre, helping people get back into employment, said she was pleased to have helped so many.

She said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to be part of something so positive.”