£1.8m disability service launches in popular seaside town

A new £1.8m service for people with learning disabilities has opened in Whitley Bay.

Cedartree Court has been built to better integrate housing, health and social care in order to support vulnerable people in the region to live independently.

Created by housing association Home Group, it includes 13 apartments and shared outdoor space, as well as a communal lounge area.

Kelly Hope, client services manager at Home Group, said: “People with learning disabilities have a much lower life expectancy and can also spend a significant amount of their lives either in hospitals or living outside of their local area.

“Cedartree Court is the first of several new services we’re creating across the North East where the focus will be on wellbeing, skills and physical health.

“This includes understanding what’s important to our customers so they are able to enjoy a much higher quality of life.”

The service has been built by Bishop Auckland based contractor T. Manners and was commissioned by North Tyneside Council.

Mark Longstaff, head of commissioning and asset management, North Tyneside Council, added: “This model of supported living is in line with our requirements to support more people with a learning disability to be independent and to live in their own properties.

“People have the ability to maximise their potential whilst having a supportive staff team around them to help them when needed.

“We have worked proactively with Home Group over the last few years to get to this point and it’s really good to see people living there and benefitting from it.”

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