Dumfries & Galloway MP Praises School Close

Tenants from School Close, our state-of-the-art specialist care service for adults with learning disabilities in Kirkcudbright, were last week delighted to welcome Dumfries and Galloway MP, Richard Arkless, to their new home.

School Close is one of our most exciting new developments, offering tenants a modern, life-enhancing living environment and more independent way of living. Having previously lived together in shared accommodation, tenants at School Close now enjoy the freedom of having their own apartments and personalised support, tailored to their individual needs.

Mr Arkless received a personal guided tour of the spacious and modern complex by people supported, finding out how the new model of care, leading architectural approaches and assistive technologies, have enabled them to lead more independent lives.

Richard Arkless said: “I was delighted to visit School Close and meet the fantastic people who live there. I thoroughly enjoyed my tour and was really impressed at what has been achieved in such a short time. It’s clear to see that the tenants are thriving in their new living environment.

“A particular highlight for me was meeting Elspeth – she was an absolute delight and so happy in her new home.  She had a tiara on so and we had great fun joking about it – I said she should be known from now on as Her Royal Highness Elspeth which she loved.  It’s great to see these wonderful people so well looked after and so content.  Full credit to the team at School Close for creating such a fantastic environment, I’m already looking forward to my next visit!”

Mr Arkless added: “I’d like to congratulate Community Integrated Care on developing such a personalised and exemplary care service.”

Service Leader for School Close, Heather Birnie, said: “I’d like to thank Mr Arkless for taking the time out of his busy schedule to come and visit the people we support. They were really proud to welcome him into their homes and tell him about their lives.

Heather continues: “Mr Arkless was really impressed by the care we provide and we’re delighted to have received such high praise and support from our local MP.”

School Close was developed by Loreburn Housing Association in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council.