INTERVIEW: Morecambe charity helping disabled children calls on community to support its expansion plans

Tuesday, 19 December 2023 09:44

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Chris Pilkington of Unique Kidz & Co in front of the Acre Moss field where the charity plans to expand

Plans to expand a Morecambe charity for disabled young people including new play spaces and a bike track have gone in to the council.

Unique Kidz & Co aims to develop the Acre Moss field - which it owns - and its current building on Woodhill Lane to improve its services for disabled young adults and children.

The charity submitted a planning application to Lancaster City Council last week and is calling on the community to support its plans.

Unique Kidz provides afterschool, holiday and weekend clubs for children aged 5-19 with disabilities; daytime support, evening and weekend sessions for young adults aged 18-30 with disabilities, a stay and play group for children under five, and a siblings group for children over eight who have a disabled sibling. It currently has 187 young people on its register.

With its services close to capacity and an ever-growing waiting list, the proposals will allow them to take on more disabled young people and provide more accessible spaces that not only they, but other local groups can also benefit from.

"The development of the field and building will mean we, at Unique Kidz & Co, can help more individuals and families who desperately need our services," said Tracey Elkington, a trustee of Unique Kidz.

"We can also help other groups and schools by providing access to these new facilities and improve the environment for those that live in the community."

LISTEN to Chris Pilkington from Unique Kidz & Co talking about the plans

The proposal includes the extension and refurbishment of the existing building on Woodhill Lane (pictured below).

New lodges are proposed within the grounds of the site to provide extra activity spaces, alongside an accessible bike track, sensory gardens and dedicated play spaces.

A significant part of the proposal involves the landscaping of the field next to Acre Moss Lane, to offer a range of activities and facilities.

Here are some images of how the new areas might look.

The plans to expand the charity's facilities were revealed earlier this year and a community consultation took place.

HPA Architects has been heavily involved in the development of the plans and the consultation.

Denise Armer, co-founder, trustee and parent, said: "These proposals are the culmination of over 14 years of hard work and determination that myself and Jane, the other co-founder, have, for our children and other young people with disabilities to have access to the same opportunities as anyone else their age to make friends, have fun, socialise and play.

"This is why is it so important for the facility we have now to be able to expand and develop.

"This development would provide a legacy for disabled children, young adults, and their families."

Jane Halpin, co-founder, trustee and parent, said: “I wholeheartedly support the planning application that is being submitted as I know the difference it will make to my daughter’s life and the lives of so many other families in the local and surrounding areas.”

Jane and Denise are pictured below.

A parent of a young person who uses Unique Kidz' facilities said: "The use of this land is particularly relevant to me as I live next door to Unique Kidz and my son currently attends Unique Kidz. I feel the new design will offer the users a lot more opportunities to be active, enjoy nature, relax, bring together the local community, support wildlife,provide a safe sensory area, as well as boosting imagination and creativity.

"We particularly like the dipping pool area and the cycle track, as well as the additional lodges. It would be fabulous my son’s health and wellbeing to have a large safe space for him to enjoy."

Another parent said: "I could see from the plans that the proposed landscaping and wildlife pond have been carefully thought out, using largely native species that will enhance the local environment and create new habitats, in what is currently an area of unused land devoid of ecological interest. I feel sure this would be good for the wellbeing of local residents as well as the children and young adults lucky enough to attend Unique Kidz."

The planning application reference is 23/01423/FUL and full details can be found at the Lancaster City Council website planning portal where the public are invited to make comments about the proposals.

The council will decide whether to grant planning permission in due course.