A specialist education centre designed to help young people with learning or support needs opened in High Wycombe this morning.

The Future Life Centre, which features two classrooms, a ‘chill out’ room, a craft room, a kitchen, a therapy room and a sensory garden, forms part of the Flackwell Heath campus at Amersham and Wycombe College on Spring Lane.

The National Trust and Sainsbury’s are two of the partner employers involved in the new provision which gives over 60 students a chance to gain valuable life and work skills to prepare for employment.

The centre, one of the first of its kind in the UK, it focusses on vocation and employment as well as living more independently and academic studies to give greater opportunities for those young people with communication difficulties including hearing impairment.

Helen Backus, Education Commissioner at Bucks County Council, said: “I feel very proud and really happy knowing so many young people are going to benefit from this.

“They want to work and they want to have their own home and I feel it is our duty to help them get there.”

The plaque was unveiled just before 11am by county councillor Noel Brown.

Robert Grundy, whose daughter Sophie suffers from autism and attends the centre, said: “The major concern for us was what she would do when she left school.

“Full-time was too much for her but Sophie has really blossomed when she has been here.

“I’m absolutely sure without this facility we would not be where we are today. Sophie has had a great start in life and it is down to what we have here.”

Students will be given opportunities to run businesses including an on-site laundry and café, along with scope for work experience at venues like Waddesdon Manor.

They’ll also be helped with skills for budgeting, staying safe, using public transport independently, keeping fit and cooking meals.

Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing Cllr Mike Appleyard said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to expand on the provisions offered at our Aylesbury site.

“It’s vitally important for students to have the chance to learn skills that will help them flourish in their communities and not feel isolated.”

Jo Walden, Head of Student Services at the College, added “We feel extremely privileged to have this facility for the community on campus and our students are already benefitting from it.

“The college is now in a much stronger position to provide education and support for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities and to ensure they have the best possible start in life.”

The Future Life Centre is able to offer a broad range of educational experiences as a result of its partnerships with agencies including MacIntyre No Limits, Talkback Equip, Oxfordshire NHS, Buckinghamshire NHS and Chiltern Music.

For more details on the scheme, please contact Andy Holmes on aholmes@buckscc.gov.uk or 01296 382293.