Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, has welcomed the announcement from The Mount Camphill Community in Wadhurst, East Sussex, that the renovation and refurbishment work at Pond House on Wadhurst High Street has been completed.
A fabulous new home for six cohousing supported living members, some co-worker coordinators and two volunteers has been created and they are moving in. This project is part of The Mount’s pioneering new model of provision for young people with learning disabilities offering supported, independent and community living called “cohousing”. Pond House will increase The Mount’s number of cohousers from ten to sixteen.
Nusrat has visited Pond House in February 2022 to see the start of the renovation works and to support the fundraiser.
The fundraising target of £613,000 has been reached, due to the very good news that The National Lottery Community Fund have pledged £100,000. Students, cohousers, families and friends have helped to raise over £78,000 towards the campaign, supported by several high-net-worth individuals and grants awarded by over 15 trusts & foundations – all helping to endorse the project further.
Pond House offers a further step to independent living for young adults choosing to live outside of The Mount’s main campus but within walking distance to it. It is a large family house situated in the heart of Wadhurst with its many amenities and services. It was purchased by The Mount in 2017 with a clear plan for it to become an offsite cohousing house. It has been extended and refurbished, new fixtures and fittings added to provide a home for six cohousing tenants along with senior co-workers and two young volunteers who will also live there. The work has been carried out by Coxdown Construction; a local building company based in Broad Oak, Heathfield.
The Mount is now undertaking a proactive fundraising campaign to raise a further £75,000 for more landscaping needed to create a beautiful outdoor surrounding space to enhance the wonderfully refurbished inside space. To donate and find our more please click here.
Nusrat Ghani said: “The Mount Camphill Community is a fantastic asset to Wealden, helping students gain greater independence, create friendships, and equipping them with skills to help them engage in the community outside college life. It is great news that The Mount Campbell Community secured £100,000 from the National Lottery to help with the project and create a permanent residence for an additional six disabled adults and a co-worker to provide a stepping-stone to support independent living. Cohousing is an innovative way to support people with learning disabilities and I’m pleased that The Mount are paving the way with this model in Wadhurst.”
Michael Hayes, cohouser who will live at Pond, said: “When I joined Cohousing my dream was to live in Wadhurst in Pond House. I used to be shy, but now I am more outgoing. I might make some new friends and join some new clubs and get a part time job because it only takes 5 minutes to walk into the village.”
