Nick Herbert visits housing project for disabled people
Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert has visited a local project that is giving young people with profound and multiple disabilities the chance to enjoy more independent lives.
Mr Herbert was at Bradbury Court near Washington on Friday afternoon (23 October) to meet residents, parents and staff.
The farmhouse, barns and outbuildings at East Clayton Farm, owned by the National Trust, have been redeveloped by The Lorica Trust in a £2.5 million project to provide eight shared ownership units which were completed in May.
The scheme, one of the first of its kind in the country, has been developed in close partnership with parents and West Sussex County Council Social Services, with support from MiLife, a not-for-profit organisation that provides 24-hour care for residents at Bradbury Court.
During his visit, Mr Herbert was given a briefing on the project and heard about plans to expand the number of units available for young people. The MP also heard about plans to produce organic food on the 120-acre farm.
On a tour of the housing complex, Mr Herbert met 27 year old Isabel who was the first resident to move into Bradbury Court during the summer and chatted with her personal carer, Harriet.
MiLife Chief Executive Doug Sanders commented: "We were most pleased to welcome Nick Herbert to Bradbury Court to see the shared ownership accommodation provided for eight young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties. I was particularly appreciative of the time Nick spent in meeting the residents and the care staff. We look forward to involving Nick in our future activities."
Nick Herbert commented: "I enjoyed my visit to Bradbury Court. The care and accommodation for young people with the most serious disabilities was marvellous, enabling them greater independence, and it was interesting to hear how much happier the residents were after just a short time in their new home.
"It was a pleasure to meet both staff and residents, and it was good to see the sympathetic conversion of these farm buildings for a really constructive new use."
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Notes for Editors
1. For more information about Bradbury Court, East Clayton Farm, visit http://www.eastclaytonfarm.co.uk/.
2. For more information about MiLife, visit http://www.milife.org.uk/index.htm.
3. For the website of the Lorica Trust (currently under reconstruction), visit http://www.lorica.org.uk/.
4. The photograph shows (left to right): Nick Herbert MP; Sue Miles, Registered Manager; Doug Sanders, Chief Executive of MiLife; parent Howard Kerr.