West Oxfordshire District Council cash funding boost

Gardening is a healthy living activity — istock: monkeybusinessimages

Published: 06 July 2016

On 28th May West Oxfordshire District Council approved a grant of £200,000 towards the creation of our planned supported living facility for people with young onset dementia. The cash boost complements the £350,000 allocated by the Homes and Communities Agency and £300,000 from Oxfordshire County Council.

Geoff Shepherd, Chair of YoungDementia UK Homes said: “I am delighted that West Oxfordshire District Council has approved a grant of £200k towards the construction costs of the much needed residential facility for people with early dementia in Charlbury. This ground breaking scheme will provide a unique living environment and will be the first of its type in the UK.”

Warwick Robinson, District Council cabinet member for planning, said he was pleased it was approved by a committee of councillors.

He added: “We feel it is one of those cases where we can and should support it, because it will provide a unique facility that is clearly needed. We are very pleased indeed with the project, the people behind it are obviously very committed and have put in a huge amount of effort to bring it forward.”

District councillor for Charlbury Liz Leffman, also a trustee of the Charity, said the new home would provide a place for people in their 50s and 60s to be among their peers.

She added: “I am a big supporter of this because there is an increasing need for accommodation for people who get early-onset dementia but, if you can’t afford specialist care, many can end up going to a home that is really for older people.

“This new home will allow them to have more of a social life and the fact it is being built in Charlbury is brilliant, because it can become part of the community. The majority of people are very happy it is being built here.”

Rodney Rose, Charlbury county councillor, added: “I’m very pleased it is going ahead and particularly so that it will be in Charlbury.”

The charity received a resolution to approve the planning application from the West Oxfordshire Uplands Planning Sub-Committee on the 2nd November 2015.