DAME HANNAH'S NOT LEAVING IVYBRIDGE

Leading West Country charity, Dame Hannah Rogers Trust has this week been keen to allay fears that the recent purchase of the Seale Hayne site will see the complete transfer of services away from the charity's Ivybridge base.

Bronwen Hewitt, Dame Hannah Rogers Trust, CEO, said "We are keen to continue the proud tradition of education and excellence for which Dame Hannah's is famous, and to do this we must expand. Seale Hayne provides a unique opportunity to develop specialist services for young people with physical disabilities and learning disabilities alongside our Ivybridge site.

The demand for supporting disabled people is increasing while government commitment is reducing. Statutory financial cut-backs at both national and local level forced us to be both proactive and innovative, hence the decision to purchase Seale Hayne."

Recognised as a leader in providing education, care, and therapies to children and young people with physical disabilities in the

Mrs Hewitt continued "Our school, respite centre and young adult provision in Ivybridge continue to grow and provide excellent services for young people. However we need to look to the future and Seale Hayne is vital in ensuring we can provide for our current existing young people and many more in the future."