THE Joseph Rowntree Foundation was today accused of betraying its founder’s legacy with plans to close down a York care home for people with learning difficulties.

James Lund, whose sister, Janet, lives at Dormary Court, in Huntington Road, accused the foundation and its sister organisation, the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, of “abandoning” her and other residents.

“Residents’ families are not happy with this situation and are very worried about what’s going to happen to their loved ones,” he claimed. “I guess that Mr Joseph Rowntree would not be pleased with these developments.”

Mr Lund said Dormary Court had been built about a quarter of a century ago by the foundation, with the help and charity of ordinary and eminent citizens, including the then Archbishop of York.

It was intended as “a home for life” for 15 people with learning difficulties. Several other homes had been built over the years. “These homes are not institutions or hospitals – they are happy ‘family’ homes run by caring and dedicated staff,” he said.

“Residents are not locked up – they are (with support as necessary) free to roam, explore, develop and work to suit their wishes. “Families have always been reassured that their relatives are well looked after, safe and happy. These homes have been a wonderful success story for JRF – something to be proud of.

“Most of the residents have lived together happily from the day they moved in 25 years ago. So, just as these people are in need of increasing care, they are being evicted and dispersed into the community. It just doesn’t seem right to me.”

He claimed residents’ families had not been consulted properly and were very worried about what would happen to their loved ones.

“It seems to us that the process of closing these homes has been a cloak and dagger operation aimed at preserving the wealth of the JRF business at the expense of these vulnerable mentally handicapped people.”

“After 25 years in a loving family JRF care home, the residents are now facing abandonment – life in a bungalow or flat with the minimum of support and a red button to press for help. It seems wrong – very wrong.”


Care home ‘won’t abandon residents’

THE foundation and trust today confirmed the care home was set to close – but denied it was abandoning residents.

John Kennedy, director of Care Services, said they would instead be moved to more mainstream housing which, with appropriate support, would give them greater security of tenure, significantly greater disposable income and much more choice in their lives.

He claimed that far from disadvantaging people, the organisation was working very closely with all individuals to provide the best accommodation and support tailored to their individual needs, and most importantly, in accordance with their individual wishes.

He said the changes were based on the foundation’s own considerable experience of providing homes, as well as evidence from research across the UK, and was in line with Government and local authority policy and strategy.

“All this, along with extensive feedback from people who have already transferred to living independently demonstrates that this is the right way forward,” he said.

He said dedicated, experienced and highly-trained colleagues from the housing trust and City of York Council had been working closely with individuals over a three-year period about the future and what types of accommodation they would like, and where.

The foundation agreed that a quarter of a century ago, places like Dormary Court were a step forward in enabling people with disabilities to engage and be more integrated into the community.

But opportunities had increased substantially today, much of this due to the tireless campaigning of disabled people themselves pressing their rights to be treated as full citizens.

“The changes are absolutely in tune with the JRF ethos. The process of change can be unsettling and the JRF recognises this.”

He said it had received very positive responses from most individuals. He insisted the changes were not about saving money, as the trust and council would be investing significant resources in high quality housing and support.

He also was adamant that the work of the foundation and trust continued in the spirit of the wishes of the founder, who wanted the causes of social problems to be understood and acted upon.