YOU ARE VIEWING ARTICLE - ID:20120511020

Title: Young People Help Education Centre Officially Launch Author: DMBC  ID & Publication: 20120511020 ~ The-Villager.co.uk  Area: Bentley  Subject: Community News

Young people with disabilities have helped a Doncaster educational resource centre to mark its official launch.

Harmony House in Bentley is a joint venture between Doncaster Council and North Ridge Community School. The centre opened last year, but has just recently held its official grand opening.

Harmony House was developed after requests by young people, parents and carers for such a facility, and after joint working by the council’s strategic housing team, the council’s Children’s Services and North Ridge Community School.

Together they worked to develop Harmony House, an off-site education and social resource centre, where young people with disabilities can enjoy short breaks and stop-overs to experience what it is like to live independently within a safe and secure environment.

Harmony House promotes and develops the skills and knowledge young people with physical and learning disabilities need to live an independent life as possible.

As well as its official opening, Harmony House has also recently discovered that together with Doncaster Council it is shortlisted in the Partnership of the Year category in the UK Housing Awards 2012. The winner of the award will be announced in June.

Head teacher, Mick Wright, said: ‘I have always promoted the need for a facility for young people with disabilities to experience independent living and Harmony House has brought a new dimension to the teaching of life skills. Young people with disabilities are now able to experience household tasks in a ‘real’ environment, where they can also experience problem solving, budgeting and gain the wider understanding of the responsibilities of living independently. I am delighted and proud to be a partner in this venture’.

Gary Wells, Doncaster Council’s assistant director for strategic housing, said: ‘It is great to see the official launch of Harmony House. Doncaster Council's one team approach was key here through different teams within the council working together with the local community to provide two empty properties for this project and providing a cocktail of funding for the refurbishment. The results are fantastic. This is a great centre for young people with disabilities and I hope those who come here enjoy themselves and learn vital skills that will stand them in good stead for the future.’

Hover over each picture for a description, or click to load larger image.