Bury Independent Living Development started its journey in 1993. Every journey has a history and here is ours; this piece has been written by the people who have taken that journey, some are very much still part of the journey, others sadly not.
Until the 1980’s most people with learning disabilities lived at home with their parents for most of their lives, although some went to live in large institutions, often some distance away from the family home.
In 1983 the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) published A Model District Service, which was a blueprint for developing local, non-institutional services which would support people to live ordinary lives within their own community. Following this, the NWRHA began the process of resettling people from the large hospitals in the North West back to their original locality.
This reflected how ideas and expectations were changing. In 1982 ‘An ordinary life’ (King’s Fund)2 wanted to see people with learning disabilities living in ordinary houses, in ordinary streets, with the same range of choices as any citizen, and mixing as equals with other people of their own community’. But whilst there was ‘dowry money’ available to resettle people from hospitals, there were no plans or funding for disabled people who had remained at home with their families. Some of these families in the North West began to see this as an unfair two-tier system and came together to form the Federation of Local Supported Living Groups. This had the aim of developing local family-led groups who would establish supported living agencies which would support disabled people to live in ordinary houses and have a life of their own choosing.
In April 1993, families in Bury came together to form a steering group to get a supported living project off the ground - Bury Independent Living Development (BUILD). It consisted of family members - mainly parents - of people with a learning disability, with the support of professionals from Social Services and Bury Council for Voluntary Service.
The group received £100 from the Carers Initiative to open a bank account. In September 1993 it produced its first newsletter, describing its aims and objectives.
To enable people with learning disabilities to lead, with high quality support valued lives, integrated into their local community.
In 1990 the NHS and Community Care Act had introduced an internal market into the supply of healthcare, making the state an 'enabler' rather than a supplier of health and social care provision. In 1993/4 the government gave local authorities in England a special transitional grant, a ring-fenced initiative which required them to make use of private and voluntary schemes for the provision of adult care services. This grant had to be passed on by the end of the 1993/4 financial year, so in November 1993 voluntary bodies in Bury were invited to bid for this money.
The group put in a bid to employ a consultant for 6 months, who would support them in acquiring charity and limited company status. This was not eligible under the terms of the grant but in January 1994 the Council (represented by Social Services) offered the group £272,000 to purchase 2 properties with revenue for the support service. This was very unexpected yet welcome news, but meant a great deal of work to be done by the end of March.
The steering group pooled their collective skills and with the help of professional contacts across the region, drew up a draft specification for acquiring and adapting accommodation, together with an estimate of running costs to provide appropriate support to people living there. Members also worked with the Council solicitor in drawing up a contract between Bury Social Services and BUILD; this was completed and signed on 31st March 1994, and the money was handed over for our supported living project.
The group continued to work hard that year. Questionnaires were sent to interested families; Irwell valley Housing Association (IVHA) was chosen as a partner in the scheme; an office was secured in Bury Business Centre; in August the first Project Coordinator was appointed; in September BUILD became a private company limited by guarantee and in December a Registered Charity.
The first two houses were purchased in the summer of 1995. Adaptations for the future tenants (two in each house) were completed, support staff recruited, and in the spring of 1996 four people moved into their new homes.
Over the years BUILD has continued to grow and change. The organisation is now known as BuryILD, to avoid confusion with another charity. In 2003, to comply with legislation that prevented an organisation being both landlord and support agency, property management of the original houses was taken over by Golden Lane Housing. BuryILD now works with a number of housing associations.
BuryILD has now supported over 40 people at one time or another. Some have moved on, some have sadly passed away, but the majority have continued to be supported by BuryILD over time. Several began to have support whilst still living in the family home before moving to their own place.
Initially, family-led groups were keen to demonstrate that they could run a service as well as, if not better than, professional agencies. Arguably, this has been achieved but families also grew to appreciate the value of professional expertise on the Trustee Board as well as family members - knowledge and experience of finance, the law, human resources, housing. Over the years there have been many valued Trustees, all offering their skills and support to the Charity, overseeing its operation and leading its development, but also maintaining its original values. The focus upon family has remained; where this is the wish of the supported person, working in partnership to ensure continuing good quality support; also ensuring that the families of Bury and surrounding areas have not only access to supported accommodation but advice, support, and professional guidance.
In 2019 we were in a strong enough financial position to seek and purchase another property which would provide supported living accommodation and support. We have come to realise that supported persons’ needs can be ever-changing over the course of their life, so wanted to ensure that from now on, any properties would be ‘futureproofed’ to avoid someone having to move out of their home as their needs changed.
In 2020 a bungalow was purchased and in partnership with Empower Housing Association we commenced a two-property project in Radcliffe. By 2021 tenants were in situ and this project paved the way as a proven process for future developments. In late 2021 we commenced a further development with Empower Housing for a three-person project, again in Radcliffe. This enabled two of our early supported people to move from a house that was no longer suitable for them and another to join them to settle into independent life. BuryILD now owns four properties in Bury and continues to support people living in other homes or in the family home.
It has been, and continues to be, a pleasure to see the ways in which people have taken ownership of their new homes, developed their own lives and lifestyles and taken hold of their independence. We are proud to say that BuryILD is continuing to achieve its original aims and stay true to its values, supporting people to lead independent lives alongside maintaining family involvement.
This account is based on information provided by Jennifer Blunt and Sheila Morris, both founder members and former Trustees of BuryILD.
****WE CURRENTLY HAVE 1 VACANCY ****
We have availability for 1 PERSON in a shared location in Bury, Greater Manchester.
This is in a shared house with another person with a learning disability.
If you would like to know more, call 0161 763 6471 or email customercare@buryild.org with your contact details. You must be over 18 to have a tenancy with us.