Nothing has a bigger impact on a person than the spaces they call home. The children and young people at InFocus, a specialist provision for children and young adults with visual impairment and complex needs, are no different.

Our Home from Home appeal aims to fully refurbish one of our residential homes here. We need your help to transform old, outdated facilities into modern living accommodation with specially adapted equipment where they can learn key life skills and live as independently as possible. Together, we can create their fit for purpose home-from-home.

Why do our young people need a home from home?

Much of our accommodation was built in the 1970s and 1980s to support students with visual impairments at the old West of England School and College.

The young people who spend all or much of the year at InFocus in the 21st century also have other complex needs. These include autism, cerebral palsy and, sadly, life limiting illnesses too.

Many of their needs simply can’t be met by these ageing buildings.

What’s already been done?

We have already completed  the first two phases of the appeal, working to enhance Mulberry Lodge (at St David’s House), and our accommodation for younger, school age children.

Brand New Accessible Kitchen

In March 2021 we announced the refurbishment of the kitchen in the Nell Arran Lodge, providing improvements including wheelchair-accessible facilities, talking microwave and height-adjustable work surfaces and appliances.

Brand New Accessible Bathroom

In May 2021, we installed a new accessible bathroom in Nell Arran, providing a fully accessible bath and tracking hoist.

What do we want to provide?

With your help we want to:

• add state of the art hoists to all our accommodation to enable a student at InFocus to more easily transfer from a wheelchair or bed or get into the bath or use the toilet
• create bedrooms that feel like home, especially when their home is far away
• modernise shared and personal spaces with lighting, flooring and walls that create a better environment to support a young person’s visual impairment or remaining useful vision
• adapt kitchens that can be used by blind and partially sighted teenagers more independently, either standing or in a wheelchair
• create comfortable social spaces for young adults to relax with their friends

How you can help create a Home from Home

Donate by text

Text BEDROOM to 70085 to donate £5.

Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message. You’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £5 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text BEDROOMNOINFO to 70085.