Debbie Wilcox, Leader of Newport City Council and a team of social services and housing professionals had a sneaky peak at our flagship ‘health, housing and support’ development for adults with learning disabilities this week.
Leading the way in Wales, ‘Tŷ Eirlys’ will provide a much needed and well awaited pathway between supported and independent living for adults with learning disabilities and is the result of a successful collaboration between Reach, Charter, Newport City Council, Welsh Government and local builders Willis Construction.
Tŷ Eirlys represents a significant re-modelling of supported accommodation for adults with learning disabilities and is a departure from the traditional provision of small group homes. The bespoke accommodation is of the highest modern standard and provides 13 individual apartments for people referred through the Council’s Common Housing Register.
Councillor Debbie Wilcox, Leader of Newport City Council, said: “Tŷ Eirlys is an exemplar for the provision of living accommodation for people with learning difficulties who want to live independently but with support on hand if they need it.”
“Newport City Council is pleased that it was able to work with Pobl on this fantastic project and I hope the tenants will be very happy in their new homes.”
Located in the Stow Hill area of Newport, the converted Victoria-style specialist accommodation has been designed for individuals’ needs both now and for the future. It comprises of 14 apartments, staff sleep-over accommodation, 2 communal lounge areas, a communal kitchen for skill building and a large landscaped garden, and a lift to all floors, enabling people to live independently with the ability to access individually tailored packages of support if needed.
Reach director of care and support Andrew Gray said: “We are extremely excited about the opening of this innovative new service next month and delighted to have the opportunity to show the leader and cabinet member for housing around this life-transforming facility.”
Tŷ Eirlys has been designed to enable people to live independently and to take more control over their lives and ambitions, as well as enjoying being an integral member of their wider community”.
Individuals will benefit from peer support and will have ample opportunities to participate in activities of their choice in the communal areas of Tŷ Eirlys. The focus of the service will be on promoting independence and community participation.
They have been actively involved in all aspects of their home from the outset, from selecting kitchen finishes and wall colours, to selecting the right staff through a series of fun ‘speed interviewing’ sessions.
Councillor Paul Cockeram, Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, added: “Social workers and Pobl have been working with the prospective tenants and meetings have been held so they can get to know one another. There is an overwhelming sense of excitement about what potentially will be a life-changing experience.
“This is a very positive step forward for everyone involved, not least the tenants, and I wish them all the best as they start to move into their new homes next month.”
The £1.5m project has been funded through the Welsh Government Social Housing Grant.
The direct care and support for the tenants will be provided by Reach, through Community Care funding. Supporting People funding will also be used to provide Housing Related Support from Reach Independent Living Service. Charter Housing will be the Landlord for Tŷ Eirlys.
Article added: 8th March 2017
