Independent living centre to open in Telford

The facility, set to open from April 12, will help people with care and support needs to live well and as independently as possible.

The centre is a joint venture between Telford & Wrekin Council and community partners, including Telford & Wrekin Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), which is a joint lead on the project.

As well as a physical centre near Telford Shopping Centre, the project will also see an online centre on the council’s website – providing advice on aids and gadgets that both younger and older residents with care and support needs can use to live independently. The online centre will go live online from mid-April and will be accessible to people 24/7

Councillor Andy Burford, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for health and social care, said: “Providing the right support to our borough residents with care and support needs is a main priority for our council.

“We are achieving this through the Independent Living Centre, a really exciting and innovative project. It perfectly complements our existing adult social care services in the borough community, by bringing together, in one place, a joined-up offer for everyone’s independent living needs.

“Thank you to Telford & Wrekin CVS as well as to all community partners and Experts by Experience which is helping us to launch the centre and make it an invaluable community resource."

The site will offer a broad range of support for people, including advice and the ability to try out aids and equipment to help them live independently. Appointments will be able to be booked from April 12.

Debbie Gibbon, of Telford & Wrekin CVS, added: “It’s great to have been working together with partners and experts by experience to develop the borough’s Independent Living Centre.

“Together we want to provide information, advice and guidance to people with care and support needs alongside formal assessment where required.

“At the physical centre, we are displaying a range of gadgets to make things a bit easier at home for people to live independently. It also includes assessment rooms for people with a range of needs to have a chat with our experts.

“We have also recreated household spaces, such as a bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen, so someone in a wheelchair, for instance, can see the equipment and adaptations that could be provided to make life easier for them."

The Telford & Wrekin Independent Living Centre project is part of the council’s wider strategy of supporting people to keep well and independent in their own homes, to make informed choices about their own care and positively contribute to their local communities.