15th April 2011

Towpath House Open Day hailed a success

Alabaré opened the doors of its Trowbridge supported housing project for young people leaving care, Towpath House, on Wednesday 13th April with much positive feedback and praise for staff.

Representatives from Wiltshire Council (who fund the project), the local community, local agencies and churches were invited to the house to meet the residents and staff and find out more about the service being provided. It was also a chance to hear the views of the residents on the support they receive.

Mel Hurley, Alabaré’s North Wiltshire & Hampshire Area Manager, said “The Open Day was a great success. It was invaluable in raising awareness of the work that we do here at Towpath House and gave our partner agencies, and others, the opportunity to gain an insiders’ view of our project. There was much praise and positive feedback about the hard work of the staff - many people don’t realise there is someone on hand 24 hours a day.

“We hope that by building relationships within the local community and with other local agencies we can work to further improve support provided to young care leavers in Wiltshire.”

Young residents from the project were on hand to show visitors around their home, giving guided tours of their rooms (all with ensuites) and showing off the big garden!

Kathy Longshaw, Placement Innovator at Wiltshire Council’s Department of Children and Education said, “…”

Towpath House is a supported housing project for six young people in Trowbridge. It aims to accommodate residents with a range of needs in a supportive, stimulating and safe environment.

Alabaré’s mission is to enable Towpath House residents to make informed life changes and to grow and develop in order to progress successfully into independent living.