CARE Shangton was a ‘Care Village’ for people with Learning Disabilities and Moderate Mental Health Conditions. It was established in 1966, but officially opened in 1973. The concept of the community based care provided, was a big step towards today’s supported living. It focused on promoting the independence of the service users by providing occupations that suited the individual, this was mainly in Catering and Horticulture. The company, CARE, also owned a tea room and a had a stall at the market in neighbouring Market Harborough. The service users planted and and potted plants and made bouquets of flowers, which were sold on the market stall and all proceeds went to the resident’s fund for day trips and holidays. They also baked cakes, scones, etc and sold them at both the tea room and the market stall.
The village was very successful, holding a very good reputation locally. It provided a service to 53 people, at times there was a waiting list to have a home here. One feature of the village that was visibly different from other care facilities, was that it was made up of several houses specially designed for 2-4 people and a more traditional 14 beded unit filled with corridors.
With the success of the village and the aging of the houses, it was announced in 2007 that CARE Shangton was to close. However, after an outcry the village was temporarily saved. In 2013, it was announced that CARE had merged with Self Unlimited. Soon after they revealed plans to relocate to the local town, Market Harborough, to ‘help the service users integrate into the local community’. The process of moving people started in late 2013 and was completed in October 2015. The new facility can provide for up to 80 people and can provide for a wider range of abilities.
The site has been sold and there has been a planning permission application for new housing
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
Cheers for Looking
