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- Westminster Childrens Society
Westminster Childrens SocietyA childcare charity, it provides accessible early years education for young children
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- Westminster Childrens Society
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A childcare charity, it provides accessible early years education for young children
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Jubilee House Care Trust
Background
Formed in 1977, Jubilee House provides care for adults and children with learning disabilities. From two buildings in Welwyn Garden City it offers short breaks of between one night and three weeks to give parents and carers some time off. The charity also provides residential care. Users frequently have a physical disability as well. Its services are purchased by Hertfordshire County Council.
How we helped
The charity believes its real expertise lies in its short break service. But the building for adults was beginning to hamper the quality of the service it could provide. Physical limitations prevented users with disabilities from staying overnight. So a decision was taken to buy and refurbish a new building in the town. The charity drew on its reserves and raised funds but a £480,000 loan was required from Charity Bank. Chief executive Catharine Hopper says Charity Bank understood the charity’s needs and what it wanted to achieve. “They understood the project and how it fitted into our overall development and the opportunity for us to offer more diverse services.”
Impact
A new building, in fact the charity’s original home, was bought from the council at a reduced rate, and then refurbished. It was opened to users in November 2009. Since then an inspection by the Care Quality Commission has deemed the environment “of an exceptionally high standard”. The new building has enabled the charity to expand its service, providing four-bedroom, instead of three-bedroom accommodation. Income from Hertfordshire County Council, which pays for the service, has risen by £100,000 a year. A separate room for an office, which the previous building did not permit, has ensured a more professional delivery. “It’s like coming to a hotel,” said one user, Jenny Martin.
www.jubileehouse.com
Jubilee House Care Trust
Background
Formed in 1977, Jubilee House provides care for adults and children with learning disabilities. From two buildings in Welwyn Garden City it offers short breaks of between one night and three weeks to give parents and carers some time off. The charity also provides residential care. Users frequently have a physical disability as well. Its services are purchased by Hertfordshire County Council.
How we helped
The charity believes its real expertise lies in its short break service. But the building for adults was beginning to hamper the quality of the service it could provide. Physical limitations prevented users with disabilities from staying overnight. So a decision was taken to buy and refurbish a new building in the town. The charity drew on its reserves and raised funds but a £480,000 loan was required from Charity Bank. Chief executive Catharine Hopper says Charity Bank understood the charity’s needs and what it wanted to achieve. “They understood the project and how it fitted into our overall development and the opportunity for us to offer more diverse services.”
Impact
A new building, in fact the charity’s original home, was bought from the council at a reduced rate, and then refurbished. It was opened to users in November 2009. Since then an inspection by the Care Quality Commission has deemed the environment “of an exceptionally high standard”. The new building has enabled the charity to expand its service, providing four-bedroom, instead of three-bedroom accommodation. Income from Hertfordshire County Council, which pays for the service, has risen by £100,000 a year. A separate room for an office, which the previous building did not permit, has ensured a more professional delivery. “It’s like coming to a hotel,” said one user, Jenny Martin.
Website: http://www.jubileehouse.com/index.php
Region: Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield/East
Sector: Disability