Southampton Learning Disability Partnership Board

I am Heather and my job is to run the Rose Road Association at the Bradbury Centre in Southampton. The Rose Road Association was started over 50 years ago by a group of parents who wanted school and things to do for their disabled children. Lots of people call us "Rose Road" and we kept this name when we moved away from Rose Road to the Bradbury Centre. This is where the Partnership Board's meetings are held.

Now we do lots of things:

• A school for children with lots of different disabilities, who need nurses and therapists to help them at school.
• The Oaks and Acorns, where young people up to age 25 can stay overnight and have a great time.
• Outreach workers who take people out to do things or help them and their family at home.
• Foster parents who make friends with all the family and take children for the weekend to give families a break.
• We produce "First Steps" a booklet about all the services in southern Hampshire for children with disabilities.
• Fun things all year round with play schemes, an after school club, a youth club, A Rose Road Day in the summer, a Carers' Forum where parents meet and support each other.
• Lots of other things too - you can see our facilities which you can book on our website at http://www.roseroad.org.uk

I have been at Rose Road since 1994.  Before that, I worked for NCH, a national charity, for 3 years, and for Hampshire Social Services as a social worker then a manager in different jobs for 18 years.  When I was a social worker I used to introduce families to Rose Road’s respite.