£14million TouchBase Pear Centre being built will be beneficial to the community according to Chief Executive of the charity Sense

A new community centre for the deafblind in Selly Oak will make a positive impact on the area, according to the boss of charity Sense.

Sense is a charity that has been going for 60 years. It helps around 250,000 deafblind people in the UK. Not only does it help those who are deafblind but helps with families, who have those that face these impairments, with advice and care.

The £14million centre will create around 130 jobs including a café, conference and training facilities, arts and performance area and a community space, all a part of the Selly Oak regeneration program.

Gillian Morbey OBE, Sense Chief Executive, said:

“We want to deliver a resource to the Midlands that benefits people with sensory impairments and also the wider community. The TouchBase Pears centre will make a great difference to so many lives.”

Tasha a shop worker at Selly Oak feels the development is a positive move. She said:

“It will give new perspective to people, new jobs, and the people who go their it will benefit them.”

The development is expected to be completed in 2017.