Field of Dreams Contract Signed!

GOOD NEWS!
Deafblind Scotland has just signed a £1.5m fixed price contract with Clarks of Paisley to build the new Learning and Development Centre on our “Field of Dreams” site in Lenzie.

In order to get the building underway at a cost we can afford we took the decision to reduce the size of the building and to reduce costs where possible. While this is understandably disappointing for deafblind people, they are aware that it’s now or never, as costs climb out of our reach. The due start date is mid-August due to complete in May 2017. Finally the dream may just come true!

We have now raised, had pledged, or have identified more than £1.58m toward the cost of the building. But it doesn’t finish there, we still need to raise the cost of vital specialist equipment and adaptations needed to ensure deafblind people can fully engage  with the  centre itself, with the activities on offer and with the outside world. This will include specialist IT equipment, hearing aid systems which are effective, lighting which is adaptable on all levels, braille signage, and BSL interpreted information, to name but a few of the much-needed adaptations.  Landscaping the surrounding ground and car park in a way which is beneficial to deafblind people will be another challenge, both financially and in terms of specialist design.

Deafblind people themselves have raised more than £150,000 towards the cost of the new £1.5m building. The support of major trusts has been invaluable in providing more than £500,000 for the new Centre. Clubs, Churches, Schools, and individuals across Scotland too many to mention, have run, abseiled, swam, and danced, all in an effort to raise funds for this new Centre.

This building will be very special to deafblind people. A uniquely enabling environment where many of them will taste their first real independence in years.  It will be a landmark achievement for Deafblind people in Scotland, and for Deafblind Scotland’s Board of Directors, 60% of whom are themselves deafblind, who first set the building of a new Centre as an organisational objective in the 2005-10 five year plan.

If you would like to help please visit our “Count me in” page.

For further information please contact:

Drena O’Malley, Initiatives Officer on
drena@deafblindscotland.org.uk or
0141 578 5848