The mother of a talented photographer with autism has said she will push for a youth zone to replace the now empty Debenhams store.
Vanessa Shults, whose 24-year-old son Jordan has had work exhibited in Firstsite, is determined to open more doors for young people who have learning disabilities.
Following the announcement from Colchester Council that £300,000 will be invested into youth services throughout the town, Mrs Shults, of Longridge, said she would do everything she could to ensure a portion of the funding went towards helping people with learning difficulties.
The retail space which used to be Debenhams is a prime spot for redevelopment
Mrs Shults, 59, believes the former Debenhams in Head Street is an ideal location for a youth zone.
She feels current level of support for people with learning difficulties fall short of what was required.
“There are parents and carers who can’t help their disabled children – a lot of people are really talented, but they just don’t have the support,” she said.
“I’ve got the motivation and I’ve got the enthusiasm, but this really isn’t about me – I don’t need the youth zone, but the town certainly does.
“If we can get the right people behind it, someone who is philanthropic then this could work.”
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Mrs Shults cited the HideOut Youth Zone in east Manchester as the perfect example of a facility funded by a businessman and run by a charity in order to help young people as well as adults with special needs.
“We want to follow the example of HideOut in Manchester – people really need somewhere positive to be,” she said.
Mrs Shults added her son Jordan is determined to change the perception of people with autism after he was a finalist at the Colchester Youth Awards in 2019, and had his work featured at an autism awareness event the same year.
Jordan and Vanessa Shults are keen to offer young people more opportunities in Colchester
Se added: “Colchester doesn’t have enough to offer people like Jordan, but I just can’t help but think positively about this kind of thing.
“I’ve got all the time in the world [for pushing this] because I don’t sleep and I’m probably autistic myself – but we just need someone high profile to support it.”
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