Building work starts on state-of-the-art home for people with autism

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Posted By: Press Release 11 June, 2014

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Former Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez and his wife Montse

After two years of planning and with £617,000 raised, Wirral Autistic Society’s (WAS) project to build state-of-the-art living accommodation for people with severe autism is finally underway at Raby Hall in Bromborough, Wirral.

WAS is an award-wininng provider of autism services employing 800 people. Its Lifetime Appeal, which is funding the building project, needs to raise £935,000 in total to complete the build. This is the first phase of a ten year project to modernise all the residential facilities on the Raby site.

Day one of the build was marked by a ceremonial ground-breaking attended by the Mayor of Wirrall, Cllr Dave Mitchell, and his wife Sue. The engagement took place on the final day of the Mayor’s year in office.

Also attending were former Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez and his wife Montse, who have a home in Wirral and whose Montse Benitez Foundation supports local charities.

Cllr Mitchell said, “This is a fantastic and much-needed project which will benefit residents, families and staff.”

Montse Benitez said, “The foundation is very proud to support the exceedingly good and dedicated work of the Wirral Autistic Society. Autism has such a huge impact on all the family. Wirral should be very proud to have such a fantastic facility on its doorstep.”

The high tech building will be a lifelong home for eight people who have autism but also severe communication and sensory difficulties.  Raby Hall, which will overlook it, has been providing residential accommodation for people with autism and complex needs since 1977, but the building was never designed to be autism-specific and is in need of modernisation.   The new build is the first phase of a project to modernise the entire site.

The new building will take six months to complete and will incorporate many features designed to create a calm, nurturing environment.  Features will include:

One of the building’s future residents will be Thomas Whelan, 23, who has been living at Raby Hall for five years. His mother, Becky, said, “Thomas is being looked after by fabulous, dedicated people. We are so excited that he’ll be moving into the new building. It’s going to be wonderful for him – he’ll be more independent and he’ll still be amongst friends from Raby Hall. It was exciting to attend the launch event, after all this time fundraising. I can’t wait to see the first bricks going in.”

Robin Bush, Chief Executive of WAS, said, “Good quality residential accommodation for people with autism is in incredibly short supply right across the country and yet it is well documented that the environment in which they live can have a profound impact on their health and well-being.  We want to create a home for life, where carers can help the residents build their confidence and self-esteem, achieving the best possible quality of life in an environment which can be adapted to their individual needs.  We see this is a lasting legacy which can be passed on to future generations in Wirral.”

About Wirral Autistic Society

Founded in 1968, the society cares for and supports people with autism and social communication difficulties.  It offers specialist support services for families and children, residential care, respite care and supported living, amongst others. www.wirral.autistic.org

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