Happy Days are Here (again) as Airmaster welcome Autism Community group

10th October 2014

Swallownest-based Airmaster, which designs, installs and maintains bespoke energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems across the UK, have just welcomed new tenant Happy Days to share their building.

Happy Days are a community outreach service supporting adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities and Autism. They offer opportunities to develop life and employment skills, as well as providing leisure activities ensuring healthy physical and mental wellbeing. Back in 2007, Airmaster had been looking for premises to house their growing workforce- but when the recession hit, they struggled to fund the expansion and were in danger of stunting future growth until the three directors decided to buy the former Wetherby pub at Swallownest themselves. Director Lisa Pogson, a leading member of the Women in Business group and board member at Barnsley-Rotherham Chamber explained, -Our vision was always for this building to be at the heart of the community. Our first task was to convert the former landlord's flat into a separate three bedroom residence on the top floor. Inviting Happy Days to share the redeveloped basement area will bring members of the community right into our building and we are delighted they can make excellent use of the space to support vulnerable adults. Airmaster's directors are now looking to open a community café within the pub's former conservatory this year and invite interested applicants to get in touch. Happy Days Centre Manager Beverley Galbraith said, -All our programmes can now be delivered in our new home, an autistic- friendly modern resource unit supported by a fully trained, dedicated team of support workers. We will be going out into the local community with experiences like a -walking on the wild side nature trail, volunteering and -grow your own greens allotment work. Our users will also be supported to do things they can find difficult but others take for granted, such as shopping, accessing local leisure centres, libraries and travelling on public transport to enjoy entertainment like bowling or the cinema. Back in our new centre, fun activities like arts and crafts, snooker, healthy living cookery skills and relaxation classes. We are really looking forward to being here. Lisa concluded, -We already have plans for some exciting Christmas events on the carpark which is rapidly becoming something of a community square with Stewart the Tuk Tuk man selling his fruit and veg every Saturday- so watch out for news.