New HQ for Stratford firm delivering vital support to disabled adults
Avon Support, an organisation which provides vital help for disabled adults in Stratford, has moved to a new headquarters in the town which will help it provide its services even more efficiently.
The organisation has left its former home in Western Road for a new site at Crown Buildings, in Alcester Road, a fully-accessible ground-floor setup which is much better suited to its needs.
Avon Support was formed in 2011 by social workers Sue Courtney and Marie Soros to provide a variety of services to disabled adults, including supported living, which allows clients to live independently and safely in their own homes.
It also offers day-time activities such as cooking, education courses and volunteering placements, as well as regular holidays, weekends and nights away to allow carers to take a break.
The majority of adults who use the service are referred to Avon Support by Warwickshire County Council and the NHS, based on an assessment of their needs.
“Everyone is really chuffed with the new building. We are so central here, which is key so people have easy access to all the facilities in Stratford town centre,” said Sue.
“There is a huge gap in social care at the moment as there aren’t enough service providers. The fact that we’re in a position to move to new premises shows we’re doing well.
“The key to our success is staying small and local. If you are good, you can get flooded with referrals and your ability to deal with them becomes compromised.
“We’re small, we know our area and we know our customers, so we’re never overstretched. This is very important to us.”
The new site also has a garden, providing another vital outlet for the adults who use the service – some of who volunteer to maintain the flowerbeds at the nearby Stratford-upon-Avon railway station, recently winning a Britain in Bloom award for their efforts.
Plans are also afoot to develop an exercise and massage room for physically disabled adults and the site also boasts an exercise and massage room, where an aromatherapist and sports physio assistant offer services to clients.
“We fund the activities we do because it’s important for disabled people to get out and about alongside members of the community. We think it is a really valuable service,” added Sue.
Leamington-based commercial property consultants ehB Reeves secured the letting of Crown Buildings for Avon Support.
Senior surveyor Jonathan Blood (pictured) said: “Avon Support is an important and well-used service in Stratford and we’re delighted to have played our part in getting Sue, Marie and the service users into their new home.
“The new site is 4,800 sq ft in size and the layout is far better suited to the organisation’s needs than what they had before.”
More information on Avon Support is available on its website.
