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Title: Doncaster Project Shortlisted For National Award Author: DMBC  ID & Publication: 20120511039 ~ The-Villager.co.uk  Area: Doncaster  Subject: Community News

Working in partnership to develop a facility for young people with disabilities has led to Doncaster Council being shortlisted for a national award.

Young people with disabilities who live in Doncaster had said they would like to learn how to be independent. Parents and carers were also echoing the same views that there was a need for a facility so that these young people could develop independence skills. It would mean as they got older they could live either on their own or in assisted independent accommodation.

Doncaster Council’s strategic housing team and the council’s Children’s Services worked with North Ridge Community School. Together they worked to develop an off-site education and social resource centre, called Harmony House, 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, which opened in July last year, promotes and develops the skills and knowledge young people with physical and learning disabilities need to live an independent life as possible.

The council’s Strategic Housing team provided two empty properties and a proportion of money for the refurbishment, the Children and Young People’s Service provided an Aiming High Grant to help with the refurbishment and contractor Lovells carried out the refurbishment. North Ridge Community School took responsibility for the management and maintenance of the property.

The project is now shortlisted in the Partnership of the Year category in the UK Housing Awards 2012.

Mick Wright, head teacher at North Ridge Community School, said: ‘Harmony House is a dreamcome true. As head teacher I have always promoted the need for a facility which will provide real opportunity for young people with disabilities to experience independence. It is an exciting development and one I am very proud of being part of.’

Gary Wells, Doncaster Council’s assistant director of strategic housing, said: ‘This project is a great success. It shows how thinking differently about delivering services by listening to the community and through partnership working, we can respond to what our customers value the most. The facility is available for young people with learning or physical disabilities from all over Doncaster and I hope those using Harmony House learn a lot there to help them in their own home in future years.’

The winner of the award will be announced in June at an awards ceremony in London

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