Ripon House Approved Premises for Women

IMPROVING FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

An exciting new development at Ripon House is the plans to improved access for residents with mobility difficulties. Ripon House is based on four floors—two floors of bedrooms, the main ground level and a lower ground level containing the kitchen, dining room and coffee lounge.

Deputy Manager Karen Willcock said “We have been aware for a while that the amount of stairs at Ripon House may mean that we may be unable to cater for some residents with disabilities. The Committee have been very supportive in our plans for converting two rooms to wheelchair access and to create a specialist wheelchair lift.”

The plans have been drawn up and we are currently in discussions with the Ministry of Justice regarding funding for the conversion work. The aim is to complete the work, subject to funding, before the end of 2008.

Ripon House already has a number of adaptations for residents with disabilities such as a Hearing Induction Loop and specialist fire safety equipment ie: fire alarms with pulsing lights.