Hinwick Hall College closure

Comms Team

13/11/13

It is with great sadness that national disability charity Livability is to close its Hinwick Hall College, based in Wellingborough, Northants, in July 2014 after completing the current education year.

Like several charities who provide special needs further education colleges Livability has been challenged by the effects of the cuts in public spending and falling student income at Hinwick, set against a background of rising costs.

Hinwick Hall College currently supports 46 students with a variety of complex physical and learning disabilities, 10 of whom will have completed their course at the college by July 2014. The college caters for day learners as well as offering residential facilities.

We understand that this loss will bring great sadness to our students and their families, as well as the dedicated staff and volunteers who work as an excellent team to support them.

We are determined over the next nine months to do all we can to help and enable our students to make a successful transition from the college, whether they are completing their education studies this July or will need to identify other opportunities for the future with their local commissioners.

We are speaking individually to each student and their families and carers.

This decision to close Hinwick Hall is not one which Livability has taken lightly. Livability has been providing specialist education on this site for over 60 years and we are well aware of the huge impact that it has had on the lives of so many students past and present.

The decision also affects more than 180 dedicated staff members, and many volunteers, who have all contributed to make Hinwick Hall such a special place. We will do our utmost to support them at this difficult time.

Livability is incredibly proud of the achievements of the students at Hinwick College and of the dedication and professionalism of the management and staff who support them in their learning every day.

We would like to thank the staff as well as the volunteers and supporters in the local community who have contributed so much to the work of the college over the decades and without whom much of this would not have been possible.