Children's respite home gets a makeover

Thursday 10 July 2014

Children with learning disabilities will soon get their first glimpse of a new home where they can stay to give their parents or carers a mini-break.

The first phase of work to Maison Allo, a four bedroom property in Bagatelle Lane in St Saviour, has just been completed and will re-open next Friday.

It’s owned by Jersey Mencap but has been run by Les Amis as a children’s respite home for the last 12 years, giving children from the age of five to 18 a safe place to stay whilst their parents and carers have a short break too.

Les Amis Managing Director Shaun Findlay said: “Yet again the successful completion of the first phase of refurbishment illustrates effective partnership working and vision to meet the current and future needs of Islanders at no extra cost to tax payers.   Les Amis has been working very hard to develop this project and I am sure the benefits will outweigh the cost when the children and young people begin using the facility this month.”

Money for the first phase of work came from the Association of Jersey Charities and Mencap and means that as well as being redecorated throughout, it is now fully accessible for wheel chair users inside and out in the garden.

The second phase of work is currently with the planning department awaiting approval. Les Amis will have to pay for the work to convert the garage into an en-suite unit with full disability access and are launching a fundraising appeal during their 40^th anniversary next year.

Les Amis was first opened at Five Oaks in 1975 and now runs 30 properties around the Island where groups of people are supported so they can live independently.