Work begins on respite home for disabled children - over two years after previous facility closed
Work is underway to create a new respite care facility for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.
The news that construction is underway will be welcomed local families with SEND children after the previous respite facility at Grace House ceased to operate in November 2023.
The announcement of the closure led to the formation of the Give us a Break campaign group with parents saying they were left in a "desperate situation" with unsuitable alternative care.
Plans were first submitted in December 2023 for the conversion of Red Gables and it had been hoped the facility could be opened for autumn 2024, which would still have left families with an interim period of a year.
Speaking at the time, a Council spokesperson said: "Children and families affected have an been allocated social workers to discuss the options and support available to them during the interim period."
In October (2024) Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee voted to approve plans for the new care centre at Red Gables, a five-bedroom detached property in East Rainton.
The City Council has now announced that work has started to refurbish the home and garden to create a welcoming, child-centred environment that will provide short breaks for children and young people with SEND.
Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet for Children’s Services, Councillor Michael Butler, said the works have started after an “extensive planning and consultation process”
He added: "As we all know and recognise, our children are our futures and so providing and ensuring they get the very best is at the heart of our city and with our work at Red Gables.
"Fitting out Red Gables for this new use is part of our mission to help and provide the very best as we create a homely centre and outdoor space for short breaks."
Red Gables was purchased “for its spacious layout, accessibility, and outdoor space that help make it ideal for creating a homely and supportive setting”.
Altogether, including the purchase price and conversion, the project has an allocated budget of £1.708m.
The facility will accommodate up to five children at a time and include features such as a sensory room, accessible bathrooms, and specialist equipment to meet diverse needs.
External alterations include making the property accessible for wheelchair users, with ramps, low threshold doors, and automatic doors alongside internal alterations, such as a lift, accessible kitchen and hoists.
The facility will be manged by Together for Children, who work in partnership with the City Council to oversee Children’s Services in Sunderland.
Simon Marshall, Chief Executive of Together for Children, said: "We’re building Red Gables as a home with and for city families. As the first of its kind to be owned and operated by Together for Children, it marks a major step forward in the support available for families with SEND needs.
"Every detail - from the design to the facilities - has been shaped by young people from our STARS group of young people with SEND needs, plus parents and carers, and experts in social care, disabilities, surveying, health, occupational therapy and ICT.
“This collaboration ensures the home truly reflects what our young people and wider community need and includes lots of details and specialist equipment that allows our young people to gain confidence and independence while also trying new experiences and making friends.
"We have asked families and our SEND youth group about finer details inside the property and for their views on outside play equipment. This feedback has led to us adding ideas such as a sensory garden where touch, sound and smell can be enjoyed by all visitors, especially those who may be visually impaired.
"It's a very exciting project, we're pleased with the progress and looking forward to the future."
The refurbishment is being undertaken by McCarrick Construction Ltd.
Director James Brown said: “We're very proud to be supporting the development of Red Gables. We understand how important this work is for the children, young people and families who will visit and stay here.
“We're all working closely on creating this safe, accessible and enriching environment at Red Gables."