A CHRISTIAN charity has opened its first children's home in nearly 20 years to cater for young people in Bradford suffering from learning disabilities such as autism.

Catholic Care, which operates across the Leeds Diocese, including the Bradford district, has spent £70,000 over the last nine months revamping Francis House, on Hollybank Road, Great Horton, as a new care facility.

The home will be able to cater for up to six children, aged six to 17, with some form of learning difficulty, offering a mixture of short-term and respite support for families.

Carol Hill, director of Catholic Care, said: "We have had the home since the 1970s, but we've given it a new lease of life as there was a great need for a service for children with learning disabilities, particularly those with autism.

"This is the first children's home opened by the charity for around 20 years, so it is a significant project for us."

The new home offers a mixture of residential and day care for families, with trained staff on-site to help children manage their conditions and develop social, communication, and life skills.

It provides bedrooms, a playroom and chill-out room, and a large enclosed back garden, featuring trampolines, slides, and a splash pool.

The home was officially opened yesterday by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, who attended along with staff from former Catholic Care homes and representatives from local schools.

Children can be referred to the home by social services or access its support independently, and Jamie Varley, registered manager at Francis House, said families had already visited the home to view the new site.

"Our research said there was a need for respite with children with learning difficulties, particularly those on autistic spectrum, and we are specifically catering for that client group," he said.

"We have refurbished the building from top to bottom and made it more child-friendly.

"It was quite a dark building internally, but it is now far brighter and more welcoming.

"We have already had some families paying a visit, with children spending some hours here in day care."

In March, a spokesman for the three local clinical commissioning groups across the Bradford district said around 260 children were pending assessment and diagnosis for autism.

Bradford Autism Support, based in the city centre, said the city was leading the way in identifying the condition earlier in children, leading to a diagnosis rate nearly three times the national average.

Mr Varley said: "Diagnosis for conditions such as autism has come on greatly and is done a lot earlier now, we're currently working with children in school and community settings who are three years old.

"Maybe ten years ago a child would be lucky to be diagnosed on their tenth or eleventh birthdays, now its done at two or three.

"Bradford is a leading light in that, they have specific autism plans in place, and we will be working closely with the relevant partner organisations as we move forward."

For more information on Francis House and other Catholic Care projects, visit www.catholic-care.org.uk.