Unit closure 'won't halt respite provision' (From Daily Echo)

Rose Road Association says unit closure won't halt respite provision

3:30pm Wednesday 25th January 2012 in Health By Bethan Phillips, Reporter

A Southampton charity has vowed to continue providing vital respite care for disabled young people, after it emerged their purpose-built unit is set to close.

The Rose Road Association is to close its eight-bed residential unit for 16 to 25-year-olds, to make space for Rosewood School.

The “Oaks” unit provides short breaks for hundreds of youngsters with complex conditions every year, giving their families vital respite from caring for them.

It opened in 2004, as part of the £6m purpose-built Bradbury Centre in Aldermoor Road, which also houses Rosewood School and facilities for disabled children.

Charity bosses say they are looking at three or four options for continuing to provide short breaks for young adults – and are likely to adapt an existing property in Southampton or build a new unit.

But worried parents have expressed their doubts that a new facility will be ready by September – when Rosewood School hopes to move into the unit’s space.

One, who did not want to be named, said: “There’s no way they will get something sorted by September – especially if they’re going to do a new building. There’s a lot of unanswered questions.

“I can’t believe a house, no matter what they did to it, would fit the same bill as the current centre.”

Last week the charity celebrated its 60th anniversary and director of business development, Neil Wilson, has promised that measures will be in place for youngsters to benefit from its short breaks.

He added: “I can categorically say there won’t be a break in the service, whatever happens in terms of the new building.

“We’re doing this because it’s a really exciting opportunity for the school and for Rose Road to grow and develop and move forward.

“As far as facilities go, these will remain shared between the school and Rose Road.

“For the young people that come for short breaks, it will be a short distance to come and access the facilities at the Bradbury Centre.”

Rosewood School, which is in the process of becoming a “free school”, needs the space so it can take on an extra 27 pupils with special educational needs.

The Rose Road Association says the school and charity are on a “solid financial footing”, though extra fundraising may be needed to move the Oaks unit.