Donisthorpe Hall and Leeds Jewish Welfare Board to rehouse residents with learning disabilities in newly refurbished home

Leeds Jewish Welfare Board's residents with learning disabilities will be rehoused on the site of the Donisthorpe Hall care home.

The Woodlands building at the Shadwell Lane care home in Moortown is vacant and will be newly refurbished to house the 16 residents.

LJWB and Donisthorpe Hall have received support from the Marcia and Andrew Brown Charitable Trust to assist with the relocation from previous homes in Cramner Bank.

Liz Bradbury, CEO of the LJWB social care charity, said: "Our residents are very excited by the move to Woodlands.

"The needs of people with learning disabilities entering residential care are significantly higher than when the previous homes in Cranmer Bank were built.

"This is the perfect opportunity to re-envisage communal living and future proof provision for the Jewish community in Leeds on an established site.

"The residents have been involved in the decoration of their new home which will provide additional indoor and outdoor space - all which is accessible for wheelchairs as well as improved facilities and joint working between our two organisations."

Chairman of LJWB, Russell Manning said: "The current premises in Cranmer Bank are out- dated, tired and are no longer viable as a home for life for our current residents, and as DH has spare capacity, it is the perfect solution to consolidate our community resources and align the two facilities.

"This venture marks the start of LJWB and DH working in partnership to ensure long term provision of care for the Jewish Community in Leeds."

Donisthorpe Hall Chairman, Robert Ross, added: "We are delighted to be working closely with LJWB and welcoming the LJWB Learning Disability residents into ‘Woodlands’ on the site of DH.

"This partnership will benefit both DH and LJWB in reducing costs and improving efficiencies. Although ‘Woodlands’ and DH will be separately registered with CQC and run independently there will be many benefits from co-existing, sharing resources and expertise."

Marcia and Andrew Brown said: “We hope that our support not only provides first class accommodation for the 16 special residents with learning disabilities, but that it also brings both Donisthorpe and Leeds Jewish Welfare Board closer together in unifying service provision for the Jewish community in Leeds.

"We are proud and privileged to be involved with two wonderful organisations who deliver so much to those who need it most."