An organisation providing training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities in Co Antrim is appealing for help to help fund their new "forever home."
The Bridge Association, currently based in the Enkalon Industrial Estate in Antrim, has been providing services in the area since 1988 and has seen demand steadily increase over the years. Parts of their current centre are closed off as they are unfit for purpose, further reducing their available space.
The not-for-profit group has now launched a Crowdfunder appeal to help fund their new centre and community hub which will be located behind Junction One. The new centre would bring a host of positive changes, including allowing them to train 50 adults a day instead of the 32 they can train currently.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, David Edmont and Jacqueline Barnes, directors of The Bridge Association, said the new centre would be a "game changer" for the services they could provide and help them further provide for the wider community.
Explaining why they need the new centre, David explained: "In 2014-15 we put together a ten year plan which included the building of a new unit, as we are facing increased demand. It will be a purpose built training facility which we believe will be a centre of excellence for learning disability training in Northern Ireland, and a community hub as well.
"We've went through grant applications and got what we could, and we are now seeking funding to help get the building built. We have secured additional money, but we can't get that released until the project is fully funded.
"It's a just over £3 million project, and so far we have raised £2 million towards this. We currently have 32 adults with a learning disability, 19 staff, and a waiting list for more places. The service is very much needed and demand is growing.
"Thankfully we have two social enterprises, both based in Castle Mall, where our trainees go up during the day. If we didn't have them, we would probably have to reduce our numbers as we're struggling for space in here. Parts of the building are not fit for purpose which we've had to shut off."
Jacqueline said the new purpose built centre would allow them to fulfil the plans they have dreamt of for years, and help them continue to change lives. She added: "It would be amazing. Our facilities will be state of the art and we'll be able to be our own registered centre again and be able to provide our own qualifications again.
"We will be able to integrate more into the community and bring in the elderly and do afternoon tea parties. We will be doing hot desking for other organisations to come in and give advice to people around the likes of banking, benefits, and services available.
"We will be able to offer voluntary training, we will be looking at things like performing arts qualifications, we will be developing a football team, a choir, and we'll also have two more social enterprises in the new hub.
"The most important thing is it will be our forever home. We will then have security in our building and be able to offer what we want to offer, we will be able to listen to our trainees and act and bring in what they wish to do. It will make such a difference and we will be able to keep adapting as needs change.
"We would class Bridge as a family; it's not just about the trainee, it's about their families too so we would be very supportive of both. If we can improve the trainee's life, we can improve the family's. We want people to come in and join our fun, quirky community."
You can find out more about The Bridge Association's fundraiser and click here to donate.
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