Mayor's praise for respite service

Cllr Lyndsay Pitchley visited Rainbow House in Brampton-Bierlow to see for herself the unique work it carries out.

The Mayor set up a visit after meeting the owner of the project, Nichola West, at a Clifton Park event and being “really excited” to hear about its work.

Rainbow House, on Brampton Road, supports young people with additional needs and learning disabilities.

Nichola founded the respite service two years ago after working in social care for 24 years.

The detached property has four bedrooms and currently supports around ten people aged between eight and 23.

Nichola said: “Young people come and stay for respite for a few days or over a weekend to give their carers or parents a break.

“We also teach life skills like budgeting money, as well as confidence skills.”

Nichola said that around 30 young people had been supported by Rainbow House since it was established.

The Mayor said she had been very impressed on her visit to the house and had never seen a project locally like it.

With a son who has autism, the Mayor said she knew from personal experience that having a place like Rainbow House that fitted around a child’s needs was very important as the school environment could often be too rigid.

She praised its way of teaching and said the approach of the service for struggling families was “thinking outside the box”.

For more information visit rainbowshouse.co.uk.