Cardiff Council Leader, Rodney Berman unveiled a commemorative plaque at a party to mark the official opening of the short break home which, in partnership with Action for Children and the Children’s Community Nursing Service (CCNS), provides respite care through overnight stays for disabled children and young people with complex needs.
Guests, children, their families and staff enjoyed a special tea party with their teddy bears at Ty Storrie to celebrate the opening of the home. The new building provides the space and modern facilities to meet a wide range of needs, including a safe, stimulating and fun experience for children. It also offers families the opportunity to have a short break from the responsibility of caring for their disabled child, which provides important respite for parents and other siblings within the family.
Cardiff Council is working in partnership with Action for Children which will deliver the Cardiff Short Breaks service at Ty Storrie. Action for Children is a charity with a long history of service provision in Cardiff and is currently celebrating its centenary year. It supports children and their families affected by issues including poverty, disability, family problems and homelessness.
The Council has invested in the region of £1.6million in the construction of the new home, which replaces the Cardiff Short Breaks Service on Rhydypenau Road in Cyncoed. Ty Storrie provides increased capacity compared to the facility at Rhydypenau Road and is able to provide for a wider range of needs at the same time. It is a purpose built modern facility, with eight bedrooms for children, a spacious play room, sensory room, medical room, two lounges, kitchen, dining facilities, garden and office space. The building is well equipped with hoists, specialist bathrooms, and sensory equipment. Ty Storrie is part of a development which includes the adjacent Ty Gwyn Special School.
Cardiff Council Leader Rodney Berman said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the new Ty Storrie home is open. This is a fantastic new facility which will really make a difference to the lives of the city’s disabled children and their families.
“I am extremely proud to have such an outstanding provision in Cardiff. Through our partnership with Action for Children and the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, the new facility will provide an excellent service for vulnerable children and their families, providing them high quality surroundings to meet their needs.”
Executive Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing, Cllr Kirsty Davies, said: “I am thrilled with the new Ty Storrie home. We now have a modern, comfortable short break home for families to enjoy. The service provision is highly regarded by those who receive it, and I’m so pleased that we are able to offer this specialist provision to support our most vulnerable children.”
Barbara Street, Action for Children’s Operational Director of Children’s Services in Wales said: “I am extremely proud to mark the opening of Ty Storrie as we are celebrating 100 years of Action for Children’s work in Wales. “We have come a long way since opening our first service in Wales – a home at Newport Road in Cardiff to give young girls care, shelter and education. Today Action for Children runs over 130 services across 50 sites in Wales, supporting over 15,000 of the most vulnerable and neglected children, young people and their families in local communities.”
