Support Statement Children's Centre
The Children's Centre
Children, Young People and Families First
1100350
The Children's Centre 94 Woodbourne Road, Douglas Isle of Man
1M2 3AS
Tel: 01624 676076
Fax: 01624 611927 Web: www.thechildrencentre.org.in Web: www.thechildrencentre.org.in
Support statement for Change of Use for Wallberry Farm House, Santon
Extract from letter sent to Planning Officer for Pre-Planning enquiry (15/02/2011)
The farm will form an educational and community resource for the island, focusing on experiential learning that can be gained from caring for animals and growing crops. Our initial plans are to establish farming projects to further our work with children, young people and families across our organisation. Within the first year, we hope to be able to open to other community groups; such as school groups and youth clubs; and in time to the wider public. As well as taking part in agricultural and horticultural activities there will also be a workshop where participants can experience how farm machinery is maintained and gain skills in areas such as woodturning and metal work.
The farm buildings will become an office base to staff from existing Outreach and Mobex services, as well as offering an office base for the Community Farm.
How the farmhouse will be used
The Children's Centre's Outreach team works with vulnerable young people and their families to try and prevent entrance into the care system by offering tailor made programmes to suit individual needs; providing support and advice in a friendly and informal way. Building on the existing service, we intend for the farm to become a valuable resource offering new and unique opportunities for young people which have been designed to help them make a successful transition from teenager into adulthood.
Mobex works with young people from all backgrounds, who, through challenge, adventure activities and creative projects, are able to discover new abilities to succeed in their lives and deal with the issues that adolescence and early adulthood bring. Activities include kayaking, abseiling and coasteering.
Outreach and Mobex will use the rooms on the first level of the farmhouse as an administrative space; to make phone calls, complete paperwork, and hold meetings. The ground level of the farm house will be flexible space, utilised by groups and individuals taking part in farm activities and Outreach clients.
As services that rely on flexibility, the farmhouse will offer a safe and welcoming indoor space to run sessions from. The farm will offer experiential learning opportunities, gained from caring for animals and growing crops - enabling our young people to learn about themselves, their behaviours and their capacity. Outreach aim to spend 75% of their time with service users, and therefore regular office hours are not adhered to. As a primarily outdoor service, Mobex also do not adhere to regular office hours. Both teams need a base to work from rather than a 'full time' office space.
The majority of our clients will be brought on to site with staff, either on a one to one basis (in staff cars) or as a group (in a mini bus). The number of car parking spaces available has been designed to reflect the maximum usage of the farm at any one time (including Outreach, Mobex and Farm traffic). In the rare occasion that an overflow is required, additional parking will be available in the courtyard.
RECEIVED ON 11 MAR 2011 PREFARTMENT OF AFFRAISTRUCTURE
Registered Office: 94 Woodbourne Road, Douglas, Isle of Man 1M2 3AS. Company owned by guarantee. Registered in the Isle of Man No. 11171RC. The Children's Centre Ltd. Registered Energy No. 921 Management Committee: Mr Paul Custer (Chairman), Mr Max Cantell (Vice-Chair), Mr Kevin Scott, Mr Jonathan Hall, Mr Stuart Coligan, Mr Mark Hunsinger, Mr Phillip Harnand. Chief Executive: Mr John Rupp.
