New resource base for learning difficulties
Cllr Harry Andrews, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, has officially opened a new state-of-the-art resource centre in Wyllie near Blackwood. The centre will provide a base from which people with learning disabilities can access community-based activities.
The centre, called Coed-y-Cwm, is the result of a successful partnership between Caerphilly County Borough Council and United Welsh housing association. Peter Laing, Chair of United Welsh said: “This is a wonderful building and something we should all be very proud of. The aim of the project was to deliver a showcase facility specifically tailored to the needs of people with learning disabilities and complex needs. Coed-y-Cwm has most definitely delivered in all areas.”
Support will be provided by the ‘LINKS’ project who specialise in providing support to individuals with complex needs, including autism. Coed-y-Cwm will provide a stable, secure and safe environment. A building within which the ‘LINKS’ project can continue to deliver their excellent service.
The new facility will provide opportunities for some activities to take place on site such as crafts, computer skills and relaxation - but the majority of opportunities will be within the communities of the service users. These opportunities could include the use of the local leisure centre or community education centre.
The building has been designed with the needs of the service user right at the centre. Various design features have been specifically incorporated to produce a carefully tailored development that maximises sustainability. The ‘boomerang’ shape of the building gives a curved corridor area that reduces 90 degree or ‘blind’ corners. The main rooms within the centre are all south facing so the windows provide plenty of natural sun light as well as stunning views down the Sirhowy valley. For the darker corridors, a series of sun-pipes provide more natural light avoiding the need for artificial lighting. Wind-catchers on the roof are part of a fully controllable natural ventilation system that extracts warm air from the rooms whilst also allowing fresh air to infiltrate. All these features are incorporated within a building built using locally sourced timber.
Cllr Harry Andrews said: “Everyone involved in this project should be incredibly proud of this superb facility. It is a wonderful example of the council’s commitment to providing residents with the highest standards of service. With the glorious views over the valley and the friendly, supportive staff, I know that service users will feel very at home here - they deserve nothing but the best and, through the building and the ‘LINKS’ project, the ‘best’ is what they now have.”
Coed-y-Cwm is part of a series of supported developments opened across the Caerphilly Borough during 2007. It is further evidence of the commitment by Caerphilly Council and United Welsh to provide top quality buildings and first class services for people with learning disabilities and their families.
23rd August 2007
Andrew Williams, Centre Manager of Coed-y-Cwm, stands proudly in front of the new showcase facility
Cllr Harry Andrews, Tony Whittaker and Peter Laing receive a tour of the facility by Tracy Roberts of the Council social services team.