A modern, purpose-built resource hub for adults with learning disabilities is to be officially opened Friday 25 October.
Greenfield Park on the Noble’s Hospital site in Braddan is the new home for a range of adult day service facilities which were previously spread over several locations. The Tall Trees Resource Centre will offer an expanded range of activities and opportunities for service users, replacing Eastcliffe in Douglas which served as a day centre for many years. The workshops, where clients are supported in developing a range of skills from woodwork to weaving are now housed in the Greenfield Park Industrial Centre, while a garden centre, shop and café, also run as mini enterprises under the Greenfield Park name are located nearby.
The £5 million fully-landscaped development is a long-term investment in day facilities for adults with learning disabilities, and will operate alongside services offered in the community Island-wide. Work began on the site in October 2017, with facilities and service users transferring to the new complex from their former bases in stages over the last few months.
Guests will be welcomed by Jonathan Carey, Head of Adult Social Care - Operations who will thank the many individuals, organisations and supporters who have helped the project reach completion. Following this, Minister Ashford will give a short speech and unveil a wooden plaque at Tall Trees to mark the opening.
Visitors will be invited to tour the site in groups to see the new facilities up-and-running, before refreshments are served in Greenfield Park café. The café, garden centre and industrial centre are focused on employment and are run as social firms, offering work-related activities in a safe and supportive environment. Users gain confidence and skills and in time, those ready to venture beyond the social firm are supported to apply for jobs in the community.
Minister Ashford said:
‘I’m genuinely delighted to see this state-of-the-art facility complete and open for business. We can all be very proud of what has been created. It has been a long road but we have achieved our ambition to bring day services and employment opportunities for some of the most vulnerable members of society together at one location.'
He added:
‘The variety and scope of opportunities on offer is creating a real buzz among users, some of whom contributed ideas to the design and have seen them incorporated in our wonderful new facilities. Several showed such interest in the project they were invited by our contractors Cedar, to lend a hand on site – gaining invaluable experience and building skills to boot.’
Creation of the new hub delivers on the Programme for Government aim to foster an inclusive and caring society where vulnerable people are helped to achieve their full potential.
