Member Article

Hundreds of Black Country families set to benefit from opening of Progress Care’s new £250,000 Resource Centre

Hundreds of Black Country families received a major boost today, with the launch of a new dedicated Resource Centre in Wolverhampton.

Progress Care, which provides specialist social care services to children and young adults, has invested over £250,000 into creating a multi-purpose space that will provide a valuable range of community-based day opportunities for young people with additional needs.

This new facility will help individuals learn new skills for daily living, gaining employment or simply developing new hobbies and friendships, whilst also receiving vital support and gaining access to the latest therapies.

Twelve months in development, the Resource Centre features a fully equipped kitchen, sensory room, computer/quiet rooms and an open plan space to host group activities.

Mr John Crabtree OBE, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of The West Midlands, officially opened the new Resource Centre, accompanied by founder and CEO Bal Dhanoa, Managing Director Claire Rogers and staff at the firm’s Headquarters in Millfields Road.

It’s the latest expansion milestone for Progress, with the company also in the process of recruiting 50 additional staff to increase its work in the community.

“Covid-19 has definitely had an impact on how care and specialist services have been delivered and, as we head back to a more normal life, we want to make sure we have the facilities and the people in place to help families in the Black Country,” explained Bal, who founded the company 22 years-ago.

“The Resource Centre will provide a hub for local children and young adults to come together and access skills and support that will help them live the most rewarding lives possible.”

Bal, who has personal family experience of disability and a professional background as a local authority social worker, continued: “Our own approach is based on ensuring people, who may be coping with physical disabilities, learning difficulties or mental health issues, reach their full potential.

“This might be giving them access to specialist training, it might be hands-on support to overcome the barriers they face and, possibly most importantly, the belief that they can achieve whatever they want to.”

Progress has evolved from offering a small residential and fostering service in 2000 into one of the leading independent providers of specialist social care services in the Midlands.

The company, which employs 220 people, is committed to preventing family breakdowns by increasing resilience and reducing dependency, by blending a range of community-based services designed to support semi-independent and independent living.

This includes creating ‘home from home’ residential properties in Coventry, Derby, Rowley Regis, Walsall, Wednesbury and Wolverhampton.

“We have a big focus on giving people the right to live independently and our new Resource Centre will further support this objective,” added Claire Rogers, Managing Director.

John Crabtree OBE concluded: “I had the great pleasure to be invited to open the Resource Centre and to learn about the forward thinking and creative ideas being presented by Progress.

“The organisation has created a range of services which will be delivered and coordinated from this new facility. It will provide early intervention, learning and education, preventative support, and solutions to avoid or reduce crisis situations that come at a high cost to all involved. I wish Progress every success in its latest venture.”

For further information, please visit www.progresscare.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .