A BUSINESS specialising in fitting out homes has provided a kitchen for disabled people.

The Teesside Ability Support Centre, in Acklam Road, Middlesbrough, will benefit from the learning kitchen courtesy of Court Homemakers, based in Portrack Lane, Stockton.

The kitchen, bathroom and bedroom supplier has provided the £13,000 kitchen at no cost after an appeal from the centre.

Court Homemakers responded to an email from Malcolm Turley, the centre’s general manager of day services, who wrote to potential suppliers asking if they could help update the old kitchen.

Mr Turley said: “We desperately needed to replace the kitchen, which probably dates back to 1967, when the centre was opened.

“Doors are missing, the kitchen is difficult to keep clean and the oven has recently been condemned because the door seal and thermostat have both failed.

“I was hoping to get a discount but Court Homemakers quickly came back, saying they would give us a totally new kitchen and meet the full cost. I was delighted. It’s an incredibly generous offer.”

The centre offers care and life skills for 72 members on two sites, the other being All Nations Church, in Hemlington.

Paul Henderson, director of Court Homemakers, who runs the business with Paul Davies, said: “I was brought up about 400 metres from here and used to play on the centre roof when I was a kid, so I felt I had an obligation to help when we received the appeal from Malcolm.

The centre offers an essential support service to people with differing abilities and their families.”