A RALLYING cry against the 'catastrophic impact' facing residents in Wokingham has gone out in a bid to 'save' a village for people with additional needs from closing.

A campaign to keep Ravenswood Village open has grabbed thousands of people's hearts after a consultation was announced in April 2021.

The change.org petition has more than 63,000 signatures to save Ravenswood Village from closing.

The site is a unique rural residential community in Nine Mile Ride, Crowthorne.

It provides housing to people with severe learning disabilities, complex needs and autism.

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Norwood, a Jewish charity supporting children and families with educational needs, announced a consultation period to discuss the future of Ravenswood Village, with the possibility of closure.

The charity had planned to redevelop the area, but in May last year it was refused planning permission to do so.

With increasing operating losses and running costs of over £13 million a year, investment is needed at the care home to improve infrastructure and manage unused areas.

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Campaigners say that a decision to remove the 96 residents who have been there for the majority of their lives would have a catastrophic impact on their physical and mental wellbeing.

Jasmine Zivari, who started the petition, said: "The 96 residents living there today are thriving and wish to continue to live in Ravenswood, which for many has been their home for the majority of their lives.

"They are living fulfilling, vibrant lives in a place where they feel happy, loved and safe. Many are extremely vulnerable, and it is their wish and indeed in their best interest to be at Ravenswood. A decision to remove them from their home and their community would have a catastrophic impact on their physical and mental wellbeing.

"Ravenswood truly means the world to the 96 people living here today. It is their happy home where they feel loved, free and able to achieve anything. "

Many people are showing their support for the campaign.

Sian Lewis said: "To close this wonderful place would be a horrendous act of cruelty."

Gillian Miller added: "I have visited Ravenswood on a couple of occasions as a volunteer. The place is full of well cared for residents with a good staff to patient ratio. The staff obviously care about their charges and I cannot understand why such a scarce and wonderful resource should be closed."

Ron Brown also said: "Looking at the number of folk who are stuck in hospitals there should be several more similar facilities located around the country. The idea that Ravenswood might close doesn’t bear thinking about, presumably it’s a funding problem?"

A spokesman from Norwood said: "Local Authorities today are not keen to commission placements in services such as Ravenswood and the number of residents living in the Village continues to decline, making the service increasingly financially unsustainable. Capital investment likely to amount to many millions of pounds is needed to manage the unused areas and improve the site, and even that may not provide an environment that is best practice by today’s standards.  

"This is a complex situation, and a difficult one for all involved. The wellbeing of the people we support at Ravenswood Village – and the importance of planning for their needs ahead of time, given that Ravenswood no longer represents the type of facility that meets best practice in social care – will remain a priority for whatever comes next.

"Our longer-term aim is to ensure that Norwood’s facilities are in the right locations, provide the right kind of care and support for vulnerable people, align with best practice, community expectations and relevant social care guidelines. In this way we will be able to continue to meet our community’s needs, now and into the future."