£2.7m care project replaces Oxford children’s home (From Oxford Mail)

£2.7m care project replaces Oxford children’s home

6:40pm Sunday 19th April 2009

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A CRUMBLING former council-run children’s care home is to be demolished and replaced with two new buildings.

The Windmill House in Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford, will make way for new facilities for vulnerable young adults and people with learning difficulties as part of a £2.7m project.

Its 18 current residents will move out to temporary accommodation today before the bulldozers roll in next week.

The building had been a children’s care home since the 1940s before care company Stonham took it over in 1984.

The house currently provides accommodation and support for people aged 16 to 25, many of whom have experienced homelessness.

A new building on the site will create 11 new places for young adults with learning difficulties.

Matthew Wigglesworth, Stonham’s area business manager, said: “The current building would have cost around £1m in the next year alone to maintain, such was its age and bad condition.

“The new Windmill House design has been helped by clients living at the current property and will be a fresh start for the service.

“It will have improved security such as better lighting and CCTV.

“There will also be better communal areas where residents can relax, study and socialise with a minimum of two staff on hand to give support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“Many older people in the area will remember the building from its years as a children’s home.”

The new buildings are set to be opened in June next year.

One current 17-year-old resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The old building wasn’t a very motivating place to live in and now we’re moving I think it’s going to be an exciting experience to live in a new place.

“It will give lots of encouragement for people moving on with their lives in the future.

She added: “People that are in bad situations will have a positive place to move into.”

A 21-year-old female resident said: “I’m really excited that Windmill House is finally getting knocked down and rebuilt.

“When we have a new house it’ll be better for us and will look better.

“It’s beneficial to the residents and also to the staff.”

Were you one of the children who lived at The Windmill House? If so and you want to share your memories, call our newsdesk on 01865 425445.

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk

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