Autism group’s crisis meeting over future

Autism group’s crisis meeting over future

16 September 2015

A CRUNCH meeting to help a local autism charity find a new home takes place in Downpatrick next Monday.

Representatives from Children And Parents and Autism (CAPAA) are due to meet with Newry, Mourne and Down Council and South Eastern Trust officials.

Two weeks ago, the charity left its Ward 24 base in the grounds of the Downshire Hospital for the final time and is currently listed as homeless.

CAPAA officials, who will be joined by local politicians for next week’s meeting at the Downshire Civic Centre, hope the crucial talks will produce a positive outcome.

CAPAA — which caters for children and young adults — wants to secure a permanent base in Downpatrick with its chairwoman, Moira Denvir, hoping for agreement on the way forward at the conclusion of next week’s meeting.

The charity wants to retain its presence in Downpatrick to continue with its vital work and hopes its struggle to find a new home will be successful. While several buildings have been offered to the organisation, it does not have the money needed to pay the rent that would secure them.

CAPAA said the accommodation crisis is particularly difficult for children, explaining that to place them somewhere for a few weeks and then move them again only confuses them.

Councillor Billy Walker, who along with his Rowallane colleague, Terry Andrews, has been working hard to find a solution to the accommodation crisis, said no one must leave next Monday’s meeting without agreement being reached.

“It is vitally important the charity secures a new home to allow it to continue providing a vitally important service to several hundreds families. This is a unique organisation, one which I believe Newry, Mourne and Down Council and the South Eastern Trust can and must help,” he said.

Mr Walker believes that both organisations working in partnership can hopefully come up with an agreement on the way forward which is suitable to everyone.

“It has already been suggested that if the council can identify premises the Trust may be able to help secure the use of them and maybe assist with the rental costs for a period of time. This is an issue which needs to be teased out.

“I can’t help but be struck by the dedication of Mrs Denvir and everyone associated with this charity. They really are among the unsung heroes working in our community and it is important statutory organisations which can help are not found wanting.”

Councillor Walker said CAPAA cannot be allowed to stumble from “one accommodation crisis to another” and hopes next week’s meeting will produce the result “everyone wants to see.”

He added: ”We must keep the needs of the young children and adults the charity helps at the forefront of our mind when we we meet next week. For over a year CAPAA has been searching for a new home without success.

“No effort must be spared in helping this key charity find a new home. It is staffed by committed volunteers and backed by extremely supportive and encouraging parents. In its hour of need those who can help must step up to the plate to help CAPAA achieve its goal of securing a permanent new home.”