Deeley helps charity's renovation

A £160,000 project to turn a building into a home for four people with learning disabilities has started to take shape in Warwick.

Way Ahead Support Services, a local charity, has been supporting people with learning disabilities to live independently in the community for 40 years.

The charity has financed the transformation of a bungalow in Warwick using a recent bequest and with help from Rowland Trust, WPH Charitable Trust and Heart of England Community Foundation.

Deeley Construction, the firm carrying out the renovation, has been making the finishing touches to the roof.

The bungalow is being turned into four bed-roomed accommodation, with en-suite facilities and shared living room and kitchen areas.

Derek Harvey, of Way Ahead, said: “We aim to provide support that is tailored to meet the individual’s needs -promoting independence and respecting people’s privacy and dignity.

“We have 48 staff members and four dedicated teams in Warwick and Leamington Spa supporting 65 individuals
with all aspects of daily living skills and maintaining tenancies.”

The Care Quality Commission classifies Way Ahead Support Services as’two star good’. This means the individuals can expect quality outcomes from the charity’s support.

“This and similar projects we have completed are about enabling the people we support to have the freedom to live their own lives with the choices every individual has the right to make.

“The bungalow is situated in a very nice area in an ideal location and the local community is very supportive of our work.”

The accommodation, which is set to be ready by November, is next door to an existing Way Ahead property, which was converted into individual self contained flats in 2003.

Simon O’Brien, of Deeley Construction, said: “We were involved in the original project with Way Ahead, along with MRT architects, and we’re delighted to be doing this work next door to it.

“It’s something we are proud to be involved with. The support Way Ahead provides is superb and the facilities in this home will play an important role in giving residents the freedom and support they deserve.

“The renovation has gone very smoothly since we started two months ago, and now the roof is being finished off, the major work inside will take shape in time for handing over the keys in the autumn.”

l/r, Simon O’Brien (Deeley), David Taylor (MRT architects), Derek Harvey (Way Ahead)