A charity has unveiled a two-stage plan to develop its building in Morecambe and a nearby field with new facilities for disabled young people.
Unique Kidz and Co aims to landscape the field next to Acre Moss Lane with two new specialist lodges, an accessible play area, cycle track, sensory gardens and a growing garden.
They are also planning to transform their centre on nearby Woodhill Lane with an extension and revamped interior to allow increased capacity and spaces such as sensory rooms, therapy suites and an accessible kitchen.
Unique Kidz & Co will hold a community consultation evening at the Woodhill Lane centre on Wednesday May 24 at 6.30pm to explain the plans for the two-stage project that will transform its current outside space and building.
They aim to submit a planning application in summer 2023. Funding permitting, the project would roll out over the next five years.
Unique Kidz and Co was founded by two mums – Jane Halpin and Denise Armer (pictured below) - after they couldn’t find suitable childcare for their own disabled children.
The small charity opened in 2009 with its first after school club, where 65 young people attended.
Now the charity has 187 disabled young people on their system and an ever-growing waiting list.
With its services close to capacity and an ever-growing waiting list, these developments will allow Unique Kidz to take on more disabled young people and provide more accessible, spaces that not only they, but other local groups can also benefit from.
Father Christmas is pictured below visiting Unique Kidz & Co in December 2022
“This project has already been two years in the making, working with the fantastic HPA Architects to considerately bring our vision for our new Unique Kidz home to life," said Jane Halpin.
"We are so excited to share our incredible plans with our friends, neighbours, and the wider community at our open consultation evening, and hope that we can progress them to get the additional, accessible spaces that our young people and community need as soon as possible.”
This plan shows how the landscaping of the field near Acre Moss Lane would look.
The charity provides afterschool, holiday and weekend clubs for children aged 5-19 with disabilities (Kidz Club, daytime support for young adults aged 18-30 with disabilities (4Ever Unique), evening and weekend sessions for young adults aged 18-30 with disabilities, a stay and play group for children under five that runs twice a week during term time and a siblings group for children over eight who have a disabled sibling which meets twice a month.
Unique Kidz employs 23 permanent members of staff and has a bank of casual staff who support them during the school holidays.
Unique Kidz Trustees and HPA Architects have worked closely with landscape architect Laurel Truscott to ensure the inspiring designs fit seamlessly into the environment.
Jane and Denise are pictured below in the field next to the centre on Woodhill Lane.
The consultation evening will be led by HPA and aims to involve the local community by sharing the proposed developments and answering any questions ahead of the planning application being submitted.
“As an architect, these are the projects you dream of creating," said Zoe Hooton, director of HPA Architects.
"Our team have collaborated closely with Unique Kidz and we hope the new facilities will reflect the care and creativity that Unique Kidz bring to each of their activities and clubs.
"We hope the evening will create opportunities for more people to support our vision and learn about the charity and our considerations in the designs.”
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