Founded in 1951 as the Manchester & District School for Handicapped Children by a group of families with no school provision for their disabled children, what is now known as Brookvale Care Home has evolved plenty in its 70 years.
With very little in way of care and support children and young people with severe learning disabilities, it offered a vital service that soon grew and was able to register the school as a charity.
With money donated, the founding group bought a small farm called Brookdale, which they then developed into a residential school and care home for 32 children.
Today, Brookvale has evolved into a care home for adults with learning and physical disabilities, offering 80 beds and employing around 85 members of staff.
Meanwhile, it has a dedicated day care provision that caters for people living in their own homes, ensuring that people have meaningful, stimulating visits up to five days a week.
People that come to Brookvale are also able to make full use of the extensive facilities, including a Hydrotherapy pool and extensive grounds and gardens, with the organisation taking referrals for adults over the age of 18 with learning and physical disabilities.
CEO Carl Richmond told a recent edition of The Parliamentary Review that while challenges exist, Brookvale is well set up for another 70 years of valuable service.
"Brookvale is a well-established charity and our hope for the future is to ensure that people in our care will live as fulfilling a life as possible, and that local authorities are in a position to continue funding and to appreciate the work we do for their clients," he said.
"There will be challenges and changes ahead, there will be disappointments over fees and unless looked into there will be continued waste of money, cut resources and unnecessary duplication and repetition of paperwork. We feel we are fully equipped to deal with the pressures and look forward to a positive future."
