There were celebrations in Co Down this week as families came together for the official opening of a day centre for adults with learning difficulties.
Earlier this year, people power saved the day when the Promote Day Opportunities Service, which had been run by the South Eastern Trust and Action Mental Health (AMH), faced closure due to funding issues.
The Bangor-based training centre has offered training and support for 52 adults with learning difficulties since 2008, including the chance to develop new skills, take part in activities and meet new people, while also providing respite to families and carers.
READ MORE: People power saves 'lifeline' NI learning disability centre from closure
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AMH management informed the Trust that it had decided not to renew its contract for Promote after 31st March, saying the service was "no longer financially viable" within the available resources.
The 52 service users faced having to transfer to alternative services while their devastated families and carers campaigned tirelessly to reverse the decision, which proved successful as another local organisation, Orchardville, stepped in to continue the service.
This successful handover was completed on April 1st and since then, the service has flourished, with Orchardville enhancing the quality and range of support it provides to service users from its larger, purpose-built premises.
The centre provides support to service users in areas such as independent living skills, fitness clubs, creative writing and communication, arts and crafts to running their very own car wash business and hosting their own Orchardville radio station.
The official opening of the Orchardville Centre took place this week and was marked by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt unveiling a commemorative plaque.
The event provided an opportunity for service users, their families, Orchardville staff, the Health Minister, key representatives from the South Eastern Trust and the Mayor of Ards and North Down to all come together to not only open the centre officially, but to enjoy some Christmas cheer.
Mr Nesbitt said: “It was important for me to attend the opening here today and celebrate the work that has taken place. From what was a crisis situation, the centre has now gone to a solid financial position, while delivering really important services.
“If we are going to carry out the transformation that I want in Health and Social Care, we need to put more focus into community care and primary care. Today is about recognising those service users with challenges being embedded into the local community, that is so important to me.”
Antonia Bolton, who attends Orchardville Centre, said: “The staff here are really friendly and I have made some new friends. It is a lovely place and I love coming here as there are so many different activities I can do. I love the social groups as well as helping out on reception. I would like to thank Orchardville for everything they do.”
Andrea Hegarty, whose son Corey attends the centre, added: “It is so wonderful to see how far we have come since we got the initial email eleven months ago about the closure. The work that everyone has undertaken to make it such a success is incredible and today’s event is a day of celebration, bringing everyone together.
“Orchardville has offered Corey new opportunities and he no longer has the stress of worrying about the future. There is a range of activities for everyone and different groups with more digital technology. Corey loves music and Orchardville offers so much in this particular area, it is so lovely everyone is now together as one community.
“This is Corey’s safe place. When we talk about ‘family’, Orchardville is very much an extension of his family. Today is not only about celebrating Christmas, it’s also celebrating the achievement of Orchardville. After receiving the news this time last year, how it has worked out is far better than we ever imagined.”
Director of Adult Services at the South Eastern Trust, Rachel Gibbs said: “It's lovely to see the joy on everyone’s faces. All the work taken to get us to this point has been really worth it. It is so important to provide excellent services for people with a learning disability in the community and Orchardville is a true example of this. It really does make a huge difference. The service users love coming here.”
Chief Executive of Orchardville, Cara Cash-Marley, added: “The service means the world to those that access it and it is important to us too. For some of our service users with a learning disability, this is a place where they come to learn and to be with their friends and to be themselves.
“We have been able to give the service users and their families a sigh of relief and by bringing our expertise, we are committed to listening to our service users to improve the service. I am delighted that the service continues to evolve and grow, so it is what they need now and into the future.”
Check out our photo gallery below from the official opening of the Orchardville Centre in Bangor.
English (United States) ·