An overview of key dates and events in the history of The
Disabilities Trust.
| 1979-1983 |
1981 – Land is purchased for purpose built bungalows
and the Trust’s first unit, Ernest Kleinwort Court in Burgess
Hill, Sussex, a residential service for 35 adults with physical disabilities.
The Constitution for the Disabled Housing Trust (the previous name for
The Disabilities Trust) was adopted in 1979 and registered with the Charity
Commission in 1980. |
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| 1984-1988 |
1988 – The Trust’s second unit, Shinewater
Court in Eastbourne, opens its doors to 30 adults with physical disabilities.
Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales formally opened
Shinewater Court having previously opened Ernest Kleinwort Court in 1985. |
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| 1989-1993 |
1991 – The Trust’s first specialist brain
injury rehabilitation service, Thomas Edward Mitton House, opens
in Milton Keynes. |
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In 1992 Terry Yorath House, Leeds was opened by
the Lord Mayor. International footballer, Terry Yorath, gave his name
to the service for people with physical disabilities.
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Victoria House, Hull, was also completed in 1992,
providing for 23 adults with physical disabilities.
|
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| In July of the same year the
naming ceremony for Daniel Yorath House at Garforth, Leeds, was
carried out by Howard Wilkinson, manager and Gordon Strachan, captain
of Leeds United FC.
|
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Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust
(BIRT) established within the Disabled Housing Trust.
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| 1994-1998 |
In 1994, Kent House, Aylesbury, a service for
22 people with acquired brain injury, was opened by HRH the Duchess of
Kent.
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Carlton Resource Centre, Barnsley, opened in 1996
to provide day services for adults with physical impairments.
|
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In 1997 Jane Percy House, Cramlington was opened,
providing for 24 adults with disabilities. The centre was named and opened
by our Patron, Jane Percy, The Duchess of Northumberland.
|
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Redford Court, Liverpool, was also opened in 1997
providing rehabilitation for 24 people with brain injury.
|
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1998 – The Trust’s first residential service
for people with autism opens at Dysons Wood, Reading.
|
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The Woodmill, Cullompton, Devon opened in 1998 catering for 18
people with an acquired brain injury. |
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| 1999-2003 |
Hollyrood, West Sussex, opened in 1999 serving
24 adults with autistic spectrum disorders. |
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West Heath House, Birmingham opened the same year
providing neurobehavioural rehabilitation and community integration services.
|
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2003 – The Trust takes over Heathermount,
a school in Ascot for children with autism, marking its first step into
education services.
|
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October 2003 saw phase two of York House, a partnership
with The Retreat, officially opened by His Grace, the Archbishop of York,
providing longer-term rehabilitation and support for 14 adults with an
acquired brain injury. The first phase of York House, also catering for
14 people, was opened in October 1999.
|
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| 2004-2008 |
In 2004 the Trust welcomed Hamilton Lodge
in Essex, a service for adults with learning disabilities.
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Fen House, Ely opened in 2005 to meet the needs
of people with acquired brain injury from across the whole of the East
Anglia region.
|
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A new purpose-built brain injury rehabilitation centre
at Kerwin Court, Slinfold, West Sussex in 2006 brings the total
number of brain injury centres run by the Trust to eight.
|
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1101 Bristol Road, opened in 2006 fulfilling an
important role in Birmingham between the intensive brain injury rehabilitation
offered by West Heath House, and its supported houses.
|
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Also this year work started on Redford Court Lodge
on a site adjacent to, and complimenting the Trust’s existing service
at Redford Court.
|
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The Trust joined forces with the Northern Lincolnshire
and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in October 2007 to establish
a new neuro-rehabilitation centre based at Goole and District Hospital
- Goole Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre.
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| 2009- |
Work is well advanced on the building of
the latest BIRT service which will be opening in Springburn, Glasgow,
later this year. The unit will be registered as an independent hospital
and will provide 25 beds for people with acquired brain injury.
Plans are also underway to develop a new community integration
and continuing rehabilitation service in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
The service, due to open in 2010, will provide for 24 people with varied
living options including en-suite rooms, independent flats and self-contained
bungalows.
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