The UK’s first hotel for young people with autism and learning difficulties is moving closer to opening, with the appointment of an experienced centre manager. Work is set to begin soon on the £2m renovation scheme at the hotel, which also has a function room and an American-style diner.
The former Rivers Edge Hotel at Gateshead is to be transformed into The Vault by the St Camillus Care Group, which will not only provide respite care but will also double as a facility for young people with a range of learning difficulties to train for the hospitality industry.
Now the owners have appointed Holly Kelleher as centre manager, who has joined the project after gaining years of experience working with young people with challenges. Kelleher said, “It’s very exciting to be involved in this project and for me it is about people with a disability getting the same opportunities as everyone else.
“People coming to The Vault will get a unique, bespoke opportunity to train which hopefully should prepare them for work in the hospitality industry.”
She added, “Respite care is about the carers getting a well-deserved break but that doesn’t mean the person who is having the break shouldn’t also get a proper holiday. We are going to ensure that the people who come here get to do the things that everyone else gets to do on holiday, which hopefully includes lots of new facilities and activities.”
John Heron, who runs the St Camillus Care Group said he was delighted to have Kelleher on board. “Holly’s experience is invaluable to us and she knows from both a personal and professional level the importance of us providing the very service to everyone who comes to stay or to train at The Vault,” he said.
St Camillus Care Group has partnered with Gateshead College and its Project Choice scheme - which helps young people with autism and learning difficulties find internships – to help the young people learn the skills they need for a career in hospitality.