Health and wellbeing charity the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) has launched its long-awaited renovations at its healthy living hub.
The transformative project at the Pioneering Care Centre, at Cobblers Hall in Aycliffe, includes two extensions.
The first includes a new hydrotherapy pool and changing facilities, replacing the old pool that was struggling to meet demand.
The new pool has doubled in size to support a growing demand for hydrotherapy, with more appointments available.
PCP’s Options service for adults with learning and physical disabilities has benefitted from investment, with a much-needed extension and kitchenette, providing members with more space to learn, thrive and develop key day-to-day living skills.
PCP chief executive Carol Gaskarth said: “As a charity, this is the start of an exciting journey for PCP, after years of planning, fundraising and securing grants, PCP invested over £1m to bring this ambitious project to life and ensure we can continue to support as many people as possible with our charity mission of ‘Health, Wellbeing and Learning for All’.
“Our Options service room has also doubled in size giving members more space to take part in different sessions.
“We wanted to put Option’s name at the heart of their sessions, giving them more ‘options’ to choose activities that help them develop skills such as cooking, gardening and independent life skills that they can use outside of the Options service.”
Valuable user feedback has helped PCP ensure new facilities meet accessibility requirements, with improved changing rooms, hoist equipment, state-of-the-art water jets, sensory features, and an overall relaxing ambience where people can come together to enjoy hydrotherapy.
Eileen, a PCP hydrotherapy pool user, said: “My 24-year-old daughter has a rare genetic disorder. She is autistic and doesn’t talk at all. She also has limited mobility.
“When we go to the hydrotherapy pool, she loves the whole sensory experience. I can tell from her body language that she is relaxed and happy.”
• Pictured (top, from left): Aycliffe MP Alan Strickland, PCP pool supervisor Nenah Thorman, PCP chief executive Carol Gaskarth, Aycliffe mayor John Clark and mayoress Bernardette Clark.
