National Star College has unveiled plans to build new accommodation at Pittville to replace its existing Cheltenham property, Overton House. Three students explain why living off campus and in town has been critical to their development.
SIMON Grimmett, Rachel Janes and Matthew Stokes are preparing for the biggest moment of their lives so far.
Next month, the three students will leave National Star College to start their lives as young independent adults.
They all have different dreams but share a common ambition – to prove what they can do and not what they can't.
For all of them, Overton House and the opportunity to live in town has provided them with invaluable experience to prepare them for the challenges ahead.
Simon Grimmett, 21, uses a wheelchair and an electronic communicator to speak.
Before he came to National Star, he never dreamed of going anywhere on his own.
Now, fiercely independent, he is preparing to return home to Scarborough to study at a mainstream college, do volunteer work and find a place of his own.
"I have learned to be independent. I can go into town on my own and hope to learn how to use the train alone before I leave college," he said.
"I would never have been able to do any of this if I had lived on campus."
At college, Simon has spent the past two years supporting other students to programme their communicators. He plans to study art at college and volunteer at a Mencap school.
"For some students, being in town means they can enjoy what many of us take for granted. They can go shopping, meet their friends and take more control of their lives," said college principal Kathryn Rudd.
Overton House is four storeys, but not completely accessible for people who use wheelchairs. It provides rooms for 25 students including independent flats.
The Victorian building is leased to National Star but it is proving expensive to maintain. The college's lease expires in 2018.
Matthew Stokes has lived in the independent flats for the past two years. When he finishes next month he will work as a volunteer with a sports project for children with disabilities.
While in Cheltenham as a sports student he has worked with children at All Saints' and St Edward's schools.
His ambition is to have his own flat and a full-time job. The 22-year-old, who has the muscle-wasting disease myotonic dystrophy, said Overton House had given him the freedom to develop as an adult.
"Living at Overton House has helped me become more independent and has given me the freedom to get on a bus, to go out and to look after myself. It has got me ready for real life," he said.
"Living in my own flat meant I have had to do everything for myself from learning to keep it clean to making sure I eat sensibly and preparing my meals. I didn't do any of this before I came to the college."
Ms Rudd says students gain from being able to learn life skills at the right time and in the right place – from preparing simple meals to taking responsibility for personal care arrangements and learning to travel independently.
This bespoke training not only enhances people's lives but can also reduce long-term support funding.
A National Audit report states that up to £1 million can be saved in lifetime support costs for a young person with disabilities by providing them with the skills to live in semi-independent housing.
For Rachel Janes, who uses an iPad as a communicator, living at Overton House has given her freedom she never thought she could have.
"I can go into town, meet friends, go to the pub – do what I want to when I want to. I could never have done that before," said the 21-year-old.
They all agree that the new proposed purpose-built accommodation would make a huge difference to future students.
"It would change people's lives. Overton House isn't completely suitable. It isn't accessible to everyone. Pittville would be and that would make a such a difference," said Matthew.
