'Excitement' over special needs centre comeback

John Hill, operations manager Janine Waite, founder and trustee Heather Hill and Jessica Hill at Happy Hill Essex CIO

A building abandoned following the collapse of an Essex charity is to reopen for children and young adults with special needs.

The premises, formerly occupied by PARC (Essex), will once again be used for respite services from the end of July.

About 140 families were affected when it closed in June 2022 after at least £64,000 could not be accounted for.

A new organisation, Happy Hill Essex CIO, will now offer services from the site.

Happy Hill is part of a larger community interest company (CIC) called SEND Sensation, which will also use the building.

Short breaks will be offered to carers and families of children and young adults up to the age of 25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

After-school and holiday clubs as well as weekend clubs and activities will also be offered according to founder, Heather Hill.

Ms Hill, who has two children with special needs, said she was excited at the prospect of the centre reopening.

She told BBC Essex the centre was now being refurbished, in the hope of reopening in the summer, following a deal which had been "months in the making" and promised there would be no "repeat of history happening again".

At least £64,000 of funding provided to PARC (Essex) by Essex County Council could not be matched with services the money was intended for.

Its trustees said a "counting anomaly" had been uncovered but no further details were provided.

There is no evidence the money was misappropriated or any suggestion of wrongdoing.

'Thrilled and deeply grateful'

The former PARC premises has been empty for more than two years

Former PARC staff members were awarded a total of £166,000 by an employment tribunal last year but say they have not yet been paid any of the money.

As the authority responsible for the commissioning of children’s services, Essex County Council is taking on the lease for the building.

It will be sublet in its entirety to Happy Hill Essex CIO while the landlord, Braintree District Council, will continue to own the property.

Ms Hill said: "We are thrilled and deeply grateful for the chance to provide the community with a dedicated space that caters to the diverse needs of the wider special needs community. It's important to emphasise that the spirit of PARC will not be forgotten".

Braintree District Council took possession of the building after PARC's trustees surrendered the lease nine months ago.

A spokesman said: "We have worked closely and in partnership with our colleagues at Essex County Council in bringing this community asset back into operational use and we’re delighted with the result because we know how important this facility is and the service it provides are to families and young people with special and additional needs".