Peacehaven Trust is a group of three homes for adults with intellectual disabilities nestled in the seaside town of Greystones, Co Wicklow, which is about 20 miles south of Dublin. These three homes – Lydia House, Blake House and Applewood Heights – are community-based homes designed to assist people to their greatest level of independence. Most of our residents have busy lives out and about in the greater community.
Peacehaven will be a newly adopted child into the Presbyterian Church family, however, you may be surprised to learn that this child is nearly 40 years old. Back in the 1970s when there was little provision for adults with intellectual disabilities, lots of small groups began to form to cater for the needs of vulnerable people. God placed a concern on the hearts of two ladies, Dorothy Blake and Lydia Cochran, to provide a residential service for the evangelical community. Their vision was spoken best by Isaiah 32:18, “My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest”, which has become Peacehaven’s cornerstone verse.
In 1980, Peacehaven’s doors opened in their first home (which became Lydia House), and some of our residents today have lived in Peacehaven since that time. Our three houses cater in total for 17 adults; one notable resident is Gordon Cochran, the son of Lydia and Wilfred Cochran (one of our founders). Throughout its history Peacehaven has remained in the centre of the evangelical community in Greystones and beyond. Without the support and prayers of many faithful people, including all our staff over the years, we would not have made it this far. Yet perhaps more importantly, with that same support our residents have enjoyed fellowship and participation in churches, and have themselves grown in their knowledge and faith in Jesus. Residents have the opportunity to meet with friends in Lydia House each Monday evening to worship and pray together.
The transfer to the Council for Social Witness is reaching a conclusion, strengthening good governance which has always been the core of Peacehaven. It broadens our experinece and development of residential social care and increases our fellowship with like-minded people.
In 2018 Dawn McDowell joined the staff team in Blake House having moved from Belfast with her husband, who is the minister in Greystones Presbyterian Church. Dawn reports:
“The team are people of faith from a wide variety of backgrounds and denominations and a number have worked here for many years. We have six residents in Blake House who have lived here 10 years or more and who are pleased to call it home. The staff team work to encourage independence and to support the residents to achieve their potential. There are challenges but the joys outweigh them. It is my privilege to be a part of this team.”
Please pray:
Give thanks for the good health and busy lives of our residents.
Give thanks for the provision of additional staff which meet the needs of our residents.
Pray that we will have all the resources we need to continue to provide high quality safe services.
Michael Williams is the Director of Services at Peacehaven Trust. This blog first appeared as an article in the September edition of the Presbyterian Herald.