On Thursday I visited the Ace Place, which opened in 2009 to offer care and support to a range of adults aged 16 to 80 with learning disabilities and special needs. For the last five years they have operated from their own building in Belle Vale, formerly the Venny, where their services have grown from one to one support for a handful of service users to a large and vibrant community where people gain life skills, make friends and live fulfilling lives in the local area.

Directors Stephen Percival and Mike Prescott gave me a tour of their facilities, where they tailor activities to meet each clients individual needs and interests. They were proud to tell me that their services aren’t just about meeting physical needs but also helping people achieve goals and live lives of real value.

The facilities themselves are fantastic, though renovating them was often a challenge because of the state of the building when they took it over. The outdoor area is a large space which is great for summer and has its own garden shop that helps bring in funds. They even grow their own fruit and vegetables on site. I was pleased to see some of the work that has been done by some of the service users on display.

The Ace Place is making a real difference to people’s lives throughout the city region. You can read more their work at: https://www.thisisace.co.uk/.