The magnificent new £9million Autism Centre at Copelaw across the A167 is now open and is appealing to Newton Aycliffe residents for help in rasing funds to keep this facility running.
The site of the former young people’s centre is part of Durham County Council’s plan to expand Newton Aycliffe and 950 new homes are to built on this land replacing staff homes and utilising the services and infrastructure already in place.
One of the large units has been refurbished and adapted for use by people of all ages with autism incuding school, training facilities, recreation, therapy and long term accomodation for those with no family support.
It is an amazing amenity which when not in use will be available to the community. There are numerous rooms for meetings, a dance studio, cooking facilities, a gymnasium large enough for 5-a-side football. a swimming pool and ample outdoor activity space. The Centre may also offer office space to allied agencies and enquiries are welcome.
The first part of the centre completed was the purpose-built school with sports hall and swimming pool.
The centre’s educational services include those for children from entry level to post 16, including secondary level education and vocational courses.
Other services include intensive support for families in crisis, as well as after school clubs, holiday schemes, and leisure/activity clubs. Short breaks are available, as well as residential accommodation, extending the scope for family support and outreach services. This will be a central hub for the Autism Society; the vision behind the centre is to improve the range of specialist services available across the region
The new centre will see the Society developing an advice and support service for parents and families. and will also provide outreach support to children and families in their own homes.
They are still fundraising to equip the centre and are continuing to appeal to companies and individuals to support vital elements of the project, such as the sports, health and leisure facilities.
The charity will be looking to engage with local companies in particular and the community to raise funds. They wish to contact companies based on the Business Park in particular looking to form partnerships which will hopefully lead to support hoping to be nominated as their ‘Charity of the Year’.
Contact the Centre on 328090.
