An acclaimed charity that is now homeless

An acclaimed charity that is now homeless

9 September 2015

A CRUCIAL meeting within the next two weeks could help a Downpatrick charity finally find a permanent home in the town.

Children And Parents and Autism (CAPAA), which caters for children and young adults, left its ward 24 base in the grounds of the Downshire Hospital for the final time last Saturday and is now homeless.

There were tears as volunteers packed away equipment for the final time last weekend. Teenagers and young adults are being temporarily accommodated at The Hub in Downpatrick, but accommodation has not been secured for children who rely on the charity’s services.

On Monday night, CAPAA officials were joined by parents, children and young adults outside Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s headquarters at the Downshire Civic Centre ahead of the local authority’s monthly meeting. They were armed with posters and banners to remind politicians that they are now officially homeless.

Before the end of the month, CAPAA representatives will meet with senior council officials and South Eastern Trust representatives, and the charity’s chairwoman, Mrs Moira Denvir, hoping for a positive outcome.

While several buildings have been offered to the charity, the organisation does not have the money to pay the rent.

Mrs Denvir said the quest to secure permanent accommodation continues and she hopes the urgency of the situation will not be lost on those who have the power to help.

“I am delighted with all the support tonight. Some parents came from Belfast and we have people here because they appreciate the services we provide. We no longer have a home but are due to meet with council and health officials shortly to try and secure the permanent accommodation we need,” she continued.

“Councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews have been tremendous help and we cannot thank them enough for their support. Indeed, it is as a result of their efforts that the forthcoming meeting has been organised. We view this meeting as a positive development.”

Mrs Denvir, who described CAPAA is a “unique organisation,” hopes the South Eastern Trust will honour a commitment it gave to “help the charity for up to a year” after it vacated ward 24.

“Perhaps if the council can identify premises the Trust may be able to help us secure the use of it. We have now left ward 24 and while the teenagers and young adults will be using The Hub on a Friday night, we have no base for our children.

“It is particularly difficult for children and to place them somewhere for a few weeks and then move them again only confuses them. Even the older ones who went to The Hub last Friday night were really upset and this surprised me.”

Mrs Denvir said the children and young adults have established lifelong friendships through CAPAA and hopes a new base can be secured soon.

She added: “I hope that by the end of the month we will have secured a new home. I am the eternal optimist and believe something will turn up. This is such an important service and caters for so many people. 

“We are more than happy to keep on doing what we have been doing for years if we can secure new premises. Please God our quest for a new home will be successful.”