BANBRIDGE businessman Greg McCartan has donated over a thousand pounds worth of outdoor furniture to the new Leonard Cheshire Disability supported housing initiative in the town.
The Meadows is run by the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability and provides six specially adapted houses for disabled people.
It is a key example of how social housing organisations and health and social services have worked in partnership to provi
de much needed rented accommodation and support for disabled people.
The initiative allows local people with disabilities from Banbridge and the local area to move back into their community and live independent lives.
Greg donated the furniture from his company Loughview Timber Products, which will encourage tenants to use the space around the development. The area will become an outside communal area for residents to share.
“I am aware of the difficulties of resources when a charity sets up a new service in the area and I wanted to do something that would help the charity in assisting the tenants,” he said.
The support of the local businessman came as welcome news to the tenants of the Meadows.
“We were overjoyed when we heard about Greg’s gift,” said tenant Laverne Duffy.
“This is our home and anything which makes it a better or more comfortable place to live can only improve on the great welcome we have already had from the local community.”
Leonard Cheshire Disability thanked Greg for his generous gift and said it shows the support they have had both from the local community and the business community in Banbridge.
“To live independently, disabled people need the support of the local community and there is a clear message coming from local people - ‘we want to help’,” said Care Supervisor Anita Scullion.
David Simpson MP MLA opened the supported living initiative in October which is a partnership between Oaklee Housing Association, who have built the complex, and Leonard Cheshire Disability, who will manage the provision of support and care.
Additionally the care support has been funded through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (under the Supporting People initiative) and Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
