SVP propose new build

The local charity have been planning and researching a new build for the last eight years and have been attempting to get a proposal passed on the current project for the last four.

The present building which is located in William Street was originally a “technical” college, built over one hundred years ago and therefore no longer meets the demands of the existing services or provides the opportunity to develop new services.

The project aims to demolish the existing site, which provides 25,711 sq ft, to build a larger facility on the same site which will provide 27,981 sq ft of accommodation.

This will allow the society to offer and enhance its current services as well as allowing them to work with other organisations to develop new services for those that are most in need in the local community.

The aims of this new centre will be to accommodate The Oznam Thrift Centre and The Oznam Daycare Ltd business projects, to provide adaptable space to expand upon the Outreach Education Services in partnership with the Southern Regional College.

As an Outreach centre of the SRC students will be able to expand their training in a non-school environment.

One of the main focuses of the new centre is helping those with disabilities this will allow the Childcare Community Business to integrate children with special needs into mainstream pre-school care.

The expected outcome is that the stakeholders will “own” and develop each of the respective projects which will cover areas such as; disability, health, personal learning, education, employment, community business, leisure and community involvement opportunities.

These stakeholders will not work in isolation but as a whole whereby each group can contribute to the others.

If the proposal for this new build goes to plan it will secure the future of both the existing and new community and business services.