New Support Hub to be handed over to Flintshire County Council

A new purpose-built Community Hub for adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs is set to be handed over to Flintshire County Council next month.

The completion of Coed y Ddraig in Mold is a significant milestone for the multi-million pound project, which aims to transform day and work opportunity support in Flintshire.

The new facility will bring a number of existing services together under one roof and provide space for new ones.

Coed Y Ddraig will be operated day-to-day by Hft. Services currently offered by Hft at Tri Ffordd in Bretton will be relocated to the new site, along with the development of a new autism support service.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) will also make use of the space to continue with current service delivery. A dedicated space is available for use by the health board which will enable therapeutic interventions from Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. This space also offers the opportunity to expand the range of locations for appropriate clinical intervention from a wider range of clinical teams.

The development, completed by MPH Construction, has been made possible thanks to £2.7m of capital funding from Flintshire County Council and £2.9m from the Welsh Government’s Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund.

Initially scheduled for completion in 2025, the project was delayed due to the set-up of energy on site which was beyond the council’s control.

Councillor Christine Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Wellbeing, said:

“The upcoming handover of Coed y Ddraig marks a major milestone in this important project, which represents a significant investment in the future of support services in Flintshire.

“This purpose-built facility will allow us to bring services together under one roof, expand capacity and provide high-quality support for adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs.”

Clair Johnson, Day Opportunities Manager at Hft, said:

“We are proud to be operating Coed y Ddraig in partnership with Flintshire County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This purpose-built community hub represents a major step forward in providing high-quality, person-centred opportunities at hft.

“By bringing services together in one modern, inclusive space, Coed y Ddraig will offer greater choice and continue to empower people to build skills, confidence and independence within their local community. Working alongside other community groups we hope to bring a valuable community resource.”

Nesta McCluskey, BCUHB’s East Integrated Health Community Director of Allied Health Professionals, said:

“We are delighted to be Flintshire County Council’s partner in the Coed Y Ddraig development. This purpose-built space will allow even more collaborative working, with a range of therapies available to the communities we serve.

“Coed Y Ddraig is another excellent example of the Health Board’s commitment to working in partnership, to provide modern services which are fit for the future. We are looking forward to getting into the new building and welcoming our first service users to benefit from it.”

Rhys Edwards, Commercial Manager at MPH Construction, said:

“As a Flintshire-based contractor, we are proud to have delivered Coed y Ddraig for the local community. Working closely with Flintshire County Council and our local project partners, this has been a truly collaborative project from start to finish, built on shared goals and strong relationships.

“It is especially rewarding to now hand over a quality, purpose-built facility that reflects the needs of the community and will provide lasting benefits, making a real and positive difference to people’s lives for years to come.”

Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy said:

“It’s great that the Coed y Ddraig development is about to be handed over to Flintshire Council. People with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs will be able to access a wide range of support services, therapies and clinical interventions from this purpose-built centre.

“The project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when organisations work together. I’m delighted our £2.9m investment has helped secure the new, integrated models of care for Flintshire, which we are prioritising across Wales.”