10 June 2021 Jewish News
www.jewishnews.co.uk
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Village’s future / News
Parents fear Norwood will close Ravenswood Village his most frequent sentence is ‘You want to be at Ravenswood,’” she said. Betty said she feared that the future could spell a move for Max to living in assisted living in Parents of adults with learning disabilities and a city environment, rather than a self-contained autism have raised fears that a specialist ‘one- village. “But for Max, he couldn’t cope somewhere like London,” she said. of-a-kind’ care facility could close. “They would need to give him strong drugs A consultation is taking place on the future of Ravenswood Village, a self-contained site in just to manage him, his life would become kind Berkshire for people with autism and learning of like a zombie existence.” Maurice Collins, whose daughter Kim has disabilities. The charity Norwood said it represents an learning disabilities and bipolar disorder, said outdated model of care no longer commissioned Norwood had talked the centre down rather by councils and that resident numbers are than promoting it as a one-of-a-kind site. “They’re saying it’s ‘outdated’, it’s kind of a declining making it financially unsustainable. “It would be cruel and immoral to move any- Ratner approach,” he said. Dr Beverley Jacobson, Norwood’s CEO, body out of the village, all of whom were promised life-long care,” said Tracy Murrell, whose said she absolutely understood the anxiety felt by relatives, but that guidance and policy had son Harry, 30, is a resident. “It’s the perfect place for my son. He has all changed since it was established in 1953. Investment needed to improve the site could his therapies on-site which he needs for his physical wellbeing. If he was moved it would be be “many millions” and might not even provide an environment that is best practice by today’s devastating for him emotionally.” Betty Rabie’s son, Max, is autistic and has standards, she said. “I want to be clear that no decision has been been at Ravenswood for more than three decades. “He’s never quite understood that people made about the future of Ravenswood Village,” “The 1consultation provides a critical refer themselves as I,JAN and2020:Layout others as you. But she added. HALFtoPAGE ADVERT 1 09/01/2020 16:04 Page
by Josh Salisbury josh@jewishnews.co.uk @josh_salisbury
The Norwood site in Berkshire supports about 90 adults with learning disabilities or autism
opportunity for us to understand the views, opinions and ideas of all those connected to Ravenswood – our residents, families, volunteers and staff – and for us to discuss a range of options for the future, to which we hope they will contribute. “We are completely committed to identifying the option that will, in the medium and longer
term, ensure the best possible care and support for everyone currently living at Ravenswood, as well as for people who will need our services in the future.” The consultation is set to last until July, before a decision on the village’s future is taken later this year.
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