A CHARITY set up to provide respite care and short breaks for young people from across the North-East is celebrating after being given the green light to begin taking overnight stays.

Grace House is making final preparations for the first intake of about 25 young people at its purpose-built premises in Southwick, Sunderland, after getting the required Ofsted certification.

The development marks the culmination of the vision of late BBC Radio Newcastle presenter Kathy Secker, which saw £5.5 million raised over 12 years to create the facility - to provide services to children and young people with complex disabilities, health needs and life-limiting conditions.

Since it opened in July last year, Grace House has been providing day services, with play session, music therapy and other activities, as well as weekly groups for toddlers – but has had to await for the results of an Ofsted inspection to accept overnight stays.

Grace House chief executive Dr Karen Parry said: “We are delighted. Doing overnight stays is what we have been set up for all along.

“We have had families who have been absolutely desperate for the break.”

Dr Parry said Grace House was originally conceived as a children’s hospice, but its function had changed as many children with complex health issues no longer needed end-of-life care.

“That’s fantastic, because those children are now living into adulthood. But what parents now need is that right-through-childhood support service,” said Dr Parry.

“We have 25 young people going through their preparation and care plans for overnight stays which will begin in the next couple of weeks.

“We try to make it personalised for every family’s specific needs. Children will come for two to three nights a month on average.

“If we were going to have every bed full every night we could support about 100 families a year. ”

Grace House will provide overnight stays for young people aged from five to 18, with the prospect of also catering for children from nought to five.

The complex has eight specially-adapted bedrooms, including a larger one so that children can share sleepovers with friends or siblings who are also disabled.

It also has large adapted bathrooms, play area, music room, sensory room, library and gaming den.

For further information contact 0191-5979191 or visit www.gracehouse.co.uk.