Big step forward for Mencap's new children and families' centre

Welcoming the purchase of the south Belfast site, Mencap in Northern Ireland director Iain Foster said, “With the purchase completed, we can now move on with the appointment of contractors who will make the new centre a physical reality for people with a learning disability and their families.

"Acquiring the site is a big step forward for our new state-of-the-art children and families’ centre."

Iain Foster, Mencap in Northern Ireland director

The children and families’ centre will provide children, young people and adults with a learning disability from across the community with the support and services they need to reach their full potential and live the life they want to live.

The Centre will also act as a model for other early intervention services across the UK and Ireland. Demolition of the old primary school, which closed 5 years ago, is expected to begin this autumn with the new centre set to open in spring 2016.

Commenting on the purchase, Gregory Butler, SEELB chief executive said that the Board had worked closely with Mencap to achieve this milestone.

"The Board welcomes the purchase of the site by the learning disability charity for its new centre; especially since the site will continue to be used in a similar vein - educating future generations and acting as a focus for the local community."
Gregory Butler, chief executive, South Eastern Education and Library Board

More news about the children and families' centre:

    Read about planning permision recieved - May 2014
    Read about the launch announcement - July 2013