The award-winning design consultancy will support a host of worthwhile causes through the course of its work moving forward, with two Welsh organisations in place for year one.
Cardiff-based AP Cymru – The Autism Charity, and Many Tears Animal Rescue in Carmarthenshire, are the first to benefit from the move.
Rebecca said: “As a company we have always looked for ways to support great causes, either through donations or by providing consultancy services free of charge.
“IAD’s progression to a fully not-for-profit organisation was a natural next step for us, therefore, and one we feel is really going to guide our efforts as we continue to grow and develop the company.”
As a breast cancer survivor who attributes much of her post-cancer mental health recovery to her beloved dog Daisy, as well as an ardent champion of design for mental health professionally, Rebecca has chosen two causes close to her heart to receive IAD Company proceeds in its first 12 months as a not-for-profit organisation.
From nationally acclaimed, bespoke classroom solutions to award-winning residential facilities, IAD Company’s work supporting individuals with a diagnosis of autism through the built environment is as long-standing as it is varied.
After an appointment with her consultant confirmed all the cancer had been removed, Rebecca chose to visit her local dogs’ home and brought Daisy back to mark the occasion. IAD became involved with Many Tears Animal Rescue Centre on a voluntary basis soon after as a result of her strong bond with Daisy.
Rebecca said: “I don’t think the importance of Daisy in my recovery mentally from what happened can be overestimated really. I was helping her in bringing her home, but what surprised me was she was also helping me – we were just there for each other.”
“That was hugely cathartic and ultimately led me to become involved with the development of the site at Many Tears, where they do an unbelievable job supporting dogs which need their care and attention – but where they are in desperate need of a new veterinary surgery, office space and much more, with a budget reliant almost entirely on donations with which to achieve it.”
“Likewise, AP Cymru provide an invaluable service to those with autism, and their families, at all stages of their journey – which is a cause very close to all of us here at The IAD Company. As a charity there is constant demand for their services but everything they provide is achieved through donations, volunteers and the monumental drive of charity founder Karen Sullivan.
“Our long-time involvement with AP is what originally set in motion all of the specialist design work we have undertaken within the care sector over the years.”
The IAD Company is a design consultancy with a focus on researching and creating nurturing environments that enable people to flourish in their daily lives. They are experienced providers of architectural and interior design solutions across the hospitality, education, healthcare, commercial and domestic sectors.
IAD has won two national awards in 2019, at the Design In Mental Health and the Inspire Awards, for its work transforming a ruined barn complex into a state-of-the-art residential facility for adults with autism.
