TouchBase Pears, the new £14 million building in Selly Oak, will be officially opened on Monday 9th July, when it is visited by HRH The Princess Royal.
Developed by national disability charity Sense, TouchBase Pears will provide specialist provision for people with complex disabilities as well as services for the wider community.
Princess Anne, the charity’s Royal Patron, will be a special guest at the opening ceremony on Monday, also attended by supporters, business leaders and members of the public, taking a tour of the centre, and meeting those responsible for its successful development.
The project, which took 18 months to complete, is considered a key part of the regeneration of Selly Oak. In addition to creating over 100 jobs in the local area, it also provides a welcoming hub for wider community services, such as a café, arts and performance area, sensory garden and gallery.
The building’s fully-accessible design has been developed in consultation with children and adults with a wide range of disabilities to ensure it meets their needs. Sense will use the centre to run a number of specialist services, supporting people with complex disabilities to learn new skills, build their confidence, develop communication skills and take part in community-based activities.
The centre cost £14 million to build, with investment from various trusts and foundations, including over 700k from the Pears Foundation and £2.1m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund - a scheme to create sustainable employment across England.
Glenn Howells, Greenwoods and Stepnell oversaw the architecture, project management and construction respectively.
