Communities minister visits Bridge Association as founders appeal for funding to help them move into their 'forever home'

COMMUNITIES Minister Gordon Lyons visited the Bridge Association in Antrim last week to hear about the pressing need for funding so that the organisation can move into its ‘forever home’.

Currently based in the Enkalon Industrial Estate, the organisation has been providing services in the area since 1988 and has seen demand steadily increase over the years.

The Bridge Association is a Not-for-Profit organisation providing vocational training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities aged 18 and over.

The organisation runs the Quirky Emporium and Hug a Mug Cafe in Castle Mall.

But they are still working on a new, permanent home, with planning permission secured and new land acquired at The Junction.

Parts of their current centre are closed off as they are unfit for purpose, further reducing their available space.

There are leaks, pest infestations and the roof of workshop area was blown off in recent storms, leaving it inaccessible for health and safety reasons.

The not-for-profit group has raised two million pounds, but is seeking the final piece of funding to help open their new centre and community hub which will be located behind Junction One.

They have to date secured funding from a variety of sources such as Ulster Garden Villages, The Wolfson Foundation and their own reserves, but require a remaining £750,000 to complete the project.

The new centre would bring a host of positive changes, including allowing them to train 50 adults a day instead of the 44 they can train currently.

Founders David Edmont and Jacqueline Barnes showed Mr Lyons around the premises last Thursday.

They hope that the new centre will help them further provide for the wider community.

In 2014-15 the Association put together a ten year plan which included the building of a new unit to cope with increased demand.

It will be a purpose built training facility and a potential centre of excellence for learning disability training in Northern Ireland, as well as a community hub.

Mr Lyons was accompanied by DUP party colleagues, South Antrim MLAs Trevor Clarke and Pam Cameron, and Antrim Town Councillor Paul Dunlop.

Service users also told Mr Lyons about what the centre has helped them achieve and how important it is to them.

Jacqueline said the new purpose built centre would allow the Bridge Association to fulfil the plans they have dreamt of for years, and help them continue to change lives.