Ritchie opens Learning Disability Housing in Bessbrook

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie MLA, today opened a new £2.5million housing development in Bessbrook, for people with learning disabilities.

The requirements of the twelve tenants, all former long stay patients from Longstone Hospital, have been at the forefront of the design process. Ardaveen Manor supported living scheme has been built in three single storey clusters of domestic styled accommodation, each housing four residents. Each cluster provides personal en suite accommodation linked to shared communal facilities.

The buildings have been designed to the very highest standards with an impressive array of energy saving, design and security features. It shows how people with learning disabilities can live constructive lives in a community setting.

After meeting residents, Margaret Ritchie said: “This is a welcome and much needed boost for people with a learning disability. I have been most impressed by the new accommodation and support provided. It means that those in long stay hospital accommodation now have the opportunity to move to a more homely setting. Helm Housing, the Housing Executive and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust are to be congratulated on coming up with a design and care package that is a real winner.”

The Minister continued: “When I launched the New Housing agenda in February last year, I envisaged the delivery of housing opportunity and choice for all members of society. I want to ensure that everybody has a home that is suited to their own specific needs. I am committed, through the Social Housing Development programme, to deliver record numbers of social housing and that includes more high quality, supported housing schemes such as we have seen here today.”

David Moore, Group Chairman at Helm Housing said: “This scheme aims to integrate people from long stay in hospital, for whom rehabilitation and resettlement into independent housing may not be a viable option, into suitable quality domestic style accommodation in the community. It is also close to a variety of local amenities and provides an excellent location for the tenants to avoid isolation.”

The Southern Trust’s Chairman, Anne Balmer added: “This is a wonderful home for the twelve tenants who have moved here through the supported living scheme and who are assisted and encouraged by dedicated staff. The Trust is committed to the ethos of supported living which promotes the rights of people with a learning disability to live a normal life in the community.”

Peter Robb moved to his new home in January this year after having lived at Longstone Hospital for 17 of the last 19 years. Peter’s mum Clare says: “Peter lives in a house with three others and it is quiet, spacious and he has considerable personal attention from the kind and understanding staff. He has his own bedroom with en suite shower room and when he lived in Longstone, he shared a bedroom with three other men. Peter enjoys an outing every day. Having these kinds of opportunities is just thrilling to see.”

To mark the opening, the event concluded with the Minister unveiling a commemorative plaque.

Note to editors:

1. Helm Housing, formerly BIH Housing Association, is one of 32 housing associations registered with the Department of Social Development, thereby gaining access to Housing Association Grant. Helm manages almost 5,000 properties including housing for families and single people, sheltered housing for older people and housing for people with special needs.
2. This 12 unit scheme cost £2.4million, including land, construction costs and associated on costs. The Department for Social Development funded £2.1million through the Housing Executive, with the balance of £0.3million contributed by Helm Housing through private finance.
3. Media enquiries to Philip Maguire, DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078 or 07788 108657. Out of office hours please contact Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.