Crowdfund a community café at Kingsmill

Supporting Young People with additional needs  at Hafen Draig Kingsmill 

 

 

Mental health awareness has increased dramatically over the years, however, awareness is not the same as support or getting help. Nowhere is this more true than for young people as the need for facilities that offer transitional housing, respite care and supported living for young people with additional needs such as Autism, Aspergers, Learning Difficulties, attachment disorder, and mental health issues, far outweighs availability.

Mental Health wellbeing facts

 

Without such housing, and the means to gain life skills in a safe environment, young adults are being left ill-prepared for life’s challenges. The vast majority of mental health problems start in adolescence or in young adults,  impacting their ability to learn, develop and grow and feel part of  the wider community. This affects not only the individual but their loved ones and friends. It leads to social isolation, dependence, low self worth, self harm and suicidal thoughts and acts...but there is hope!

 

My name is Dr Stefan Coghlan, a NHS Consultant at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, and I with some colleagues, have founded DraigSupported Living (a not for profit social enterprise) to provide supported living facilities,  transitional homes and respite care for young people aged 16 to 25 years  that will allow them to live the fullest, most independent lives possible. Providing them with the support and the skills needed to increase their confidence and their self-sufficiency through great housing, employment, workshops, and the continued access to support workers, carers, and families.

 

But that is not our only goal. Draig Supported Living will provide opportunities for our young adults to maximise their potential whilst delivering benefits to the surrounding communities. We believe in enhancing social value by helping local communities come together.

Our pioneering project starts with Hafen Draig Kingsmill, a project based on the Kingsmill site in Wrexham on the historic Clwedog trail adjoining Erddig, and providing a gateway for the local communities to access rare green spaces, using the iconic former corn mill as the focus.

 Princess Diana relaunched the mill as a visitor centre in 1991,however the centre never achieved the attention it deserved and in recent years was mothballed whilst decisions were deferred as to its future use.

 

 Hafen Draig Kingsmill, with the support of ethical investment will be renovated to provide supported living apartments  on the top two floors of the building, providing transitional housing for young adults the support they require in a safe environment.

  But that's not all we intend to do. The ground floor will be open to the public providing a café staffed by our young people, along with their support workers. We intend to provide workshop spaces for businesses, such as dog grooming,  a craft shop, a petting farm,and grow organic vegetables on the grounds. These facilities will benefit the community, allow their involvement and facilitate integration. To achieve our ambitious goals we need your help.

We will seek government funding, apply for grants and seek the support of foundations  but we also need your generosity to support our cause. Together we can build a stronger community and help some of our most disadvantaged achieve their potential. 

 

100% of your generousdonations will go directly towards:

 

●     Developing  the community café where the youth willlearn job experience, responsibility, and life-changing skills

●     Raise community awareness of the local history ofKingsmill and the surrounding Clywedog Trail. The Clywedog Trail is currentlybeing relaunched and features on the North East Wales App which uses innovativetechnology to tell the story of the Valley using Bluetooth beacons.

●     Installation of an organic garden to allow the youth tolearn to grow healthy foods while selling their wares to the general public

●     Future shops to allow for more community involvement

 

This project is focused on allowing our youth to grow theirindependence while having a positive impact on the entire community of Wrexhamand North Wales. We are extremely focused on meeting and exceeding the localcommunities expectations for this historic site to allow future generations tobenefit from the facilities and surrounding area.

 

Draig Supported Living will also be working with partnerorganisations including commissioners of care, social landlords, and careproviders, to meet the needs of vulnerable young people throughout North Wales.

 

Together with your support, we will provide high qualitysupported living accommodation, personalised to each resident, across NorthWales. It will provide respite care for young people in high-qualitysurroundings suited to their needs, and provide facilities for vulnerable youngadults to transition to more independent living ensuring they have developedthe life skills required to live as independently as possible.

 

We thank you for your generosity and ask that you pleaseshare our campaign with your family, friends, and coworkers to ensure no childis left behind. For more information, please visit our website at https://draigliving.wales/

 

 

 

Draig Supported Living provide supported living for young people with additional
needs in Wrexham and North Wales.

As part of the Hafen Draig Kingsmill project we are looking to develop a community café and workshops.