The keys to a new home are finally about to be handed over to a charity for adults with learning difficulties.

Fircroft Trust will start moving residents, like Sally Piercy, 51, many of whom have Down’s syndrome or other learning difficulties into Firs Court, Hook, at the end of the month.

Before that, residents will get a sneak peek at their purpose-built home during a visit on Friday.

Richard Weir, Fircroft’s care home manager, said: “We can’t wait to get in and we have been sitting around here for months asking ‘When are we going?’ “Day by day people are asking me ‘When do we move into our new house?’ “Some of their friends live locally and they keep asking about when they can come and visit.”

The Care Quality Commission will also visit to enable its care home registration on Friday.

On the day of the move, residents who currently live in ageing Edwardian residential homes without a lift, will spend the day in the community centre in Surbiton while their bags are packed for them and chauffeured into their new rooms.

They will then get to move into their new home on their own supported by staff, family and friends.

Mr Weir said: “I can’t wait to get everybody safely in and we can then start getting people used to the house and the local area, with different places to travel to and visit.

“Service users will be much more hands on in the running of their lives now.

“We just can’t wait to get out of here.”

Fircroft Trust’s move to a new home is the culmination of three years of hard work, fundraising and planning to make the dream a reality.

Chelsea fan David Scott, one of the residents of a Fircroft sheltered home, donated his collection of rare and unusual football shirts (right) to help raise funds for the Fircroft appeal.

Others, including the Bishop of Kingston and Comet reporter David Lindsell, have pulled on their running shoes to help raise funds.