Spring Meadow Opens a New Chapter in Short Breaks and Adult Support

Progress is set to open Spring Meadow, a purpose-built service created to support young people and adults who need stability, space and meaningful opportunities to grow. 

Spring Meadow represents the next chapter in Progress’ short breaks and adult services. After years of growing demand at Stourbridge House, where the organisation now supports more than 50 families each month and delivers between 150 and 180 nights of short breaks, the need for a larger, bespoke home became clear. 

For Managing Director Claire Rogers, Spring Meadow reflects both perseverance and purpose. 

“Spring Meadow shows our commitment to developing services properly, learning from experience and creating environments that genuinely support people to thrive,” Claire said. 

Built with calm, light and flexibility in mind, Spring Meadow has been shaped by the voices of the people who will use it. Young people and families who already access Progress short breaks were involved in decisions around colour schemes, furniture and how communal spaces should feel and function. 

Phil McDonald, Head of Adult Services, describes the new service as a natural evolution. 

“Our short breaks are a lifeline for families,” Phil said. “They give carers room to breathe and young people a safe place to build confidence and explore independence. Spring Meadow gives us the space to continue doing that at the level of quality we believe in.” 

The service has been designed to feel like a home rather than an institution. Open plan communal areas flow into the garden, with thoughtfully created zones that allow people to come together or find quieter corners when they need space. 

“Not everybody wants to sit close to others,” Phil explained. “So we’ve created different areas where people can choose what feels right for them. Those insights come directly from years of learning at Stourbridge House.” 

Service leaders believe the new environment will make a meaningful difference to daily life. Dawn, Deputy Manager, sees Spring Meadow as a place where independence can grow naturally. 

“This is a proper home,” she said. “Not a shared building with lots of restrictions, but a house where people can be involved in everyday life. Cooking, caring for the garden, having quiet time when they need it. That sense of belonging really matters.” 

Amanda, Registered Manager, highlights the impact of space and calm. 

“The space alone reduces triggers,” she said. “People don’t have to be on top of each other. They can step away, regulate themselves and come back when they’re ready. That can make a huge difference, especially for young people with complex needs.” 

Team leaders preparing to work at Spring Meadow echo that view from the frontline. 

“It’s the same care we already deliver,” Chloe, one of the Team Leaders said, “just with more room to do it properly. More space for one-to-one time, more opportunities for independence and more choice for young people.” 

Spring Meadow will support up to eight people at a time and includes generous outdoor areas that will be developed into kitchen gardens and activity spaces. Plans include growing fruit and vegetables, bringing produce into the kitchen and using everyday activities to build skills, confidence and wellbeing. 

For Phil, the service is about far more than overnight breaks. 

“This can be a launch pad,” he said. “For some people, short breaks help them remain at home longer. For others, it’s the first step towards adulthood and independence. What matters is that people have the space to make informed choices about their future.” 

Located just minutes from Stourbridge House but within a new local authority area, Spring Meadow will extend access to Progress support for more families and communities. 

Final preparations are now underway, with teams completing checks, finishing touches and staff inductions. Progress will open the service only when everything feels right. 

“We want the first experience to be the right one,” Phil said. “People deserve that.” 

As Spring Meadow prepares to open its doors, it stands as more than a new building. It is a service shaped by experience, guided by leadership and built around the belief that everyone deserves a place where they feel safe, supported and able to grow.