The Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, officially opened the Two Bridges housing development in Feltham today, 10 August 2022. The Two Bridges development is a new 11-unit 24-hour supported accommodation, designed for residents with learning disabilities and/or autism. It aims to provide housing to residents, close to their families and networks of support.
Leo Maloney, Two Bridges resident, said:
“Before this, my life was not great and I did not feel like my future mattered. Since moving in here, I have met a lot of new people and had opportunities to change my life for the better.
“I made a lot of self-destructive decisions in the past. Now, my habits have changed and my mental state is better. It has been a life-changing moment for me and for the first time in my life I believe I actually have a future to look forward to.”
Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, said:
“I am very pleased to be at the official opening of Two Bridges Housing Development, the bright sunshine is reflective of this day. It has been wonderful meeting some of the residents today and seeing how well they have settled in.
“As part of our ambitions for Hounslow, we want to ensure people with learning disabilities or autism have the right support and access to our services while leading rewarding and fulfilling lives in a place they can call home.
“As a Council, we are achieving more through working in partnership and collaborating with our local communities and partners. I would like to thank our partners as well as our residents and their carers who have all come together to help make this project possible.”
Dimensions, a not-for-profit organisation supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism, will provide 24-hour support to the residents which will include a management team and senior behavioural practitioners with care provided tailored to the individual’s need.
Jocelyn Alderson, Regional Managing Director from Dimensions, said:
“We are proud to be part of this project with Hounslow Council and to be able to support more people to have better lives at Two Bridges. Through our specialist support we look forward to empowering them to become more independent, be healthy, safe and reach their full potential, leading fulfilling lives in and as part of their community.”
The project has been in partnership with Dimensions, Octavia Housing and Hounslow and Richmond Community Health Trust.
Neil McCarthy, Assistant Director of Care, Support and Communities at Octavia Housing, said:
“We were proud to work with Hounslow Council and our partners Lampton 360 and EcoWorld in developing this new scheme, which provides good quality homes for people with learning disabilities and autism and helps tackle housing and health inequalities. Together with our specialist management partner, Dimensions, these homes are designed to meet an identified gap in housing need. They will enable people with care and support needs to live well and independently, in a supported environment, where they can connect with others.”
To find out more on the Council’s support for people with learning disabilities please visit the Hounslow Council website.
Dimensions provides evidence-based, outcomes-focused support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. We help people to be actively involved in their communities.
We are one of the largest not-for-profit support providers in the UK. We currently support around 3,500 people and their families throughout England and Wales with help from our 7,000 members of staff.
We have been providing a range of support services to adults of all ages, including those with complex needs or behaviour that may challenge those around them, for over 40 years.
We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation, not here for commercial gain. This means we’re able to invest all our efforts and resources into the important things – namely helping the people we support to lead happy and fulfilled lives.
For more information, see Dimensions’ website here.