A charity building a new home for adults with learning disabilities has opened a house warming gift list to equip it for its opening next year.

Fircroft Trust has been given a January completion date for its new care home in Hook built on the site of the former White Hart pub and called the Firs.

The home will allow the residents, many of whom have Down Syndrome, to have more independence and support for those who need it, as well as being in a safe place to pop down the shops, go for a curry or go and visit Hook Scouts.

All of the people and businesses who have made generous pledges over the last year and a half are being contacted to give them the good news about the building and told now is the time to stump up the money.

Readers are being invited to give the residents a warm welcome for when they arrive in January by chipping in for new pots and pans, tumblers, bed sheets and towels.

Fircroft care home manager Richard Weir said: “It’s like any of us moving home. If you have a new house it is wonderful that people will wish you well.

“Some of the people haven’t moved for about 20 years and this is an exciting time for people, stressful as well as house moving is.”

The list has been set up at John Lewis and includes bowls, saucers and mugs from about £5 right up to a microwave for £49.95.

Specialist furniture, including medical beds, is also being ordered, although some of the furniture from the current homes will be brought over too.

The trust is also considering setting up a Friends of the Firs group to continue the support from the community during the fundraising.

So far the charity has raised £86,229.64p from donors. An extra £500 was pushed through the door last week.

Last year’s Mayor, councillor Chrissie Hitchcock, presented a cheque last week of £13,741.96 raised during her term of office.

To see the gift list and buy something visit johnlewisgiftlist.com reference 477989.

For more on the appeal visit www.kingstonguardian.co.uk/fircroftappeal