For many families, Progress has meant finally being able to breathe…
When Michelle first arrived at Wellcroft House with her daughter Jodie, she was carrying more than just bags. She carried years of worry, exhaustion, and the invisible weight that so many parents of children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) know too well, the weight of being everything, all at once, all the time.
That was seven years ago.
Now, as Progress marks its 25th anniversary, Michelle looks back on that moment as the beginning of something she didn’t know how much she needed: relief, partnership, and a new version of normal.
“My daughter Jodie has been at Wellcroft House for about seven years,” Michelle says, her voice steady with the kind of calm only trust can bring. “She was 18 when she moved in. She has been supported to have more independent skills. She goes to the gym, she has made friends, even gone to work.”
These aren’t just activities. They’re markers of a life expanded, a childhood carefully nurtured into young adulthood, with all the dignity and individuality that should accompany it.
“They dress her like an adult, not a child,” Michelle says. “She’s very particular about what she likes to wear. And they work around that, making sure she’s dressed appropriately for the weather but also for who she is.”
There’s a quiet pride in Michelle’s voice. It’s not boastful. It’s relieved.
“I have no worries when I leave her there. I know she’s being looked after. The communication is excellent. I couldn’t ask for a better place for my daughter to be.”
A Place to Breathe
Progress has never been just about the young people. It has also been about the families behind them — the parents, grandparents, and siblings who live in the delicate balance between love and burnout. For Ellie’s parents, the journey was a balancing act that never quite balanced until it did.
“As Ellie is our eldest and we have two younger children, family life was not easy,” they said. “It was often very challenging to get the balance right.”
That changed when Ellie moved into Wellcroft House.
“Ellie living at Wellcroft House has allowed us to support and nurture our other two children without restrictions while knowing that Ellie is well cared for.”
That peace of mind is priceless. But it’s more than just the basics of care. It’s the joy of seeing their daughter fully embraced by a community.
“We know she’s happy and settled because we see it in her face when she returns there. The team is committed to all of the residents. They’re caring, supportive, and always have Ellie’s best interests at heart. For that, we will always be grateful.”
There are moments that still surprise them. The cultural celebrations. The little trips. The parties. The photos.
“We love the way the team embrace and celebrate all cultural festivities during the year and take Ellie to different places. She’s exposed to so many different experiences. We particularly enjoy the parties we’re invited to.”
Then they pause, and say something that echoes what so many families feel but rarely say aloud: “You should all be very proud of how your work makes such a difference to the lives of the residents and their families, too.”
A Room, a Routine, a Life of His Own
At Stourbridge House, it is the small details that stay with Matthew’s mum. The laughter. The routine. The stillness in her own home when he’s away, a silence that, for once, is not heavy with guilt.
“Matthew loves coming to Progress,” she says. “He just enjoys it so much. And for me, it allows me to have a bit of a normal life. To just relax. To see friends. To do normal things that I just don’t get to do as a full-time carer.”
Her gratitude is clear, but it runs deeper than convenience. It’s existential. It’s survival. “Progress is an absolute lifesaver,” she says. “They’ve become like family to me and to Matthew.”
Some families speak briefly, but even their few words carry enormous weight.
“We’d like to thank all the staff for looking after Louise for many years,” says one parent. “And for the support in ill health. Thank you to everybody there. Congratulations on your 25th anniversary.”
And from another set of parents:
“Junu’s stays at Stourbridge House (Adults) make a big difference to him, and to us. Keep up the great work.”
These aren’t grand declarations. They’re testimonies to a kind of everyday heroism. The quiet, committed work of carers, support staff, team leaders, and managers who ensure that every young person at Progress is treated with dignity, encouraged to grow, and given a life that reflects their potential, not just their diagnosis.
A Legacy Etched in Everyday Lives
As Progress marks 25 years of service, it does so not with fanfare but with stories like these. Stories of mornings made easier, families made whole, children who feel seen, and parents who finally, finally, can exhale.
Progress Founder and CEO, Bal Dhanoa MBE, and other leaders of Progress have spoken proudly of the systems, the models, and the structures built. But what the families remember are the birthday parties, the culturally sensitive clothing choices, the late-night reassurance calls, and the moments when someone, anyone, simply said, “It’s okay, we’ve got this.”
That’s what 25 years of Progress looks like. Not a headline. Not a statistic. A human story, multiplied across hundreds of families, year after year. And that’s what makes it extraordinary.
It is so heart warming to hear these beautiful messages from families. To all our teams I say thank you for the care and compassion you all share, to make our young peoples’ lives so special. I am so proud of each and every one of you. And I look forward to our forthcoming celebrations evening — Bal Dhanoa MBE (Founder/CEO, Progress).
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