After years in temporary accommodation in Braintree the Tabor Centre for the physically handicapped has a permanent home.
It has gone back to its roots in the building where it began life overlooking the town's Weavers Park.
The extension and conversion of the 80-year-old former Tabor High School building was completed with the help of £479,000 from the National Lottery.
For 13 years the centre has provided a vital service for physically handicapped people from throughout the district, but never had the headquarters that organisers desired.
The centre started in the old school, before pressure on the accommodation forced a move to a temporary building at the former Tabor Middle School in Panfield Lane.
The pending sale of the site for building led to a move to the old Crittall Social Club, before that too was put up for sale, forcing another move.
The district council then provided temporary accommodation in the old Warners Mill two years ago, while work was carried out on the centre's new home.
Tabor School has since been been relocated in a £15 million complex in Panfield Lane.
Centre manager Anthea Cooper said: ''We have been like nomads. It has been worrying at times because there were points when we knew we were coming towards the end of a time we could have a building and we didn't know where we would be going.
"The new building is lovely. The outlook is fantastic and having everything on hand with no steps is such a benefit."
Published Friday, April 25, 2003
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