Holly Kelleher has been named centre manager at The Vault, which will not only provide respite care, but also double as a facility for young people with learning difficulties to train for the hospitality industry.
The pioneering hotel will be created by the St Camillus Care Group in what was the Rivers Edge Hotel at Gateshead.
Holly (36) joined the project with years of experience of working with young people facing challenges. She is also a member of BASE, the British Association of Supported Employment, which campaigns to help people with disabilities find work.
Holly, whose 17-year-old son has autism, said: “It’s very exciting to be involved in this project and, for m,e it is about people with a disability getting the same opportunities as everyone else.
“People coming to The Vault will get a bespoke opportunity to train, which hopefully should prepare them for work in the hospitality industry.”
“Respite care is about the carers getting a well-deserved break, but that doesn’t mean the person who is having the break shouldn’t also get a proper holiday.”
Work is set to begin soon on the £2m renovation of the hotel and to help young people learn hospitality skills, St Camillus Care Group has partnered with Gateshead College and its Project Choice scheme.
John Heron, who runs the St Camillus Care Group, said: “Holly’s experience is invaluable to us and she knows from both a personal and professional level the importance of us providing the very best service to everyone who comes to stay or to train at The Vault.”
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