Leigh Court Day Centre
Background
Leigh Court Day Centre was purpose built in 1926 as a therapy / occupation centre for the “patients” then living at LeighCourt Mansion. In 1988, Freeways bought the therapy centre and the surrounding land and opened it as a Day Centre for people with Learning Disabilities from Freeways homes and the local community around Bristol.
In the year 2000, Freeways developed the area of farm buildings alongside the Day Centre as an office complex and Hydrotherapy pool. Once these buildings opened in 2001, work started on refurbishment of the Day Centre, which opened for clients in January 2003 and was officially opened by Princess Anne, The Princess Royal on the 17th March 2003.
Location
Leigh Court Day Centre is located on the Leigh Court Estate along with Leigh Court Business and Conference Centre, Brackenwood Garden Centre, and The Soil Association Walled Organic Garden. There is good walking and cycling access to Leigh Woods and the River Avon Gorge.
The entrance to the estate is off the A369 Bristol to Portishead road just past Abbots Leigh Village.
Aims and Objectives
To provide stimulating, educational and fun day services to adults with learning disabilities from Freeways and the local community in an environment that is safe and secure and encourages their individuality, independence, choice and self worth in order to lead a fulfilling life.
Facilities
At Leigh Court Day Centre, the Courtyard is the central feature, which has a well-stocked fishpond, plenty of seating and shade. Around the Courtyard, we have 3 large work rooms, a Woodwork room, an I.T. room, a Music room, a Meeting room, an Office, a Snoezelen/Relaxation room, two Kitchens for making drinks, preparing simple meals and learning cookery and a Dining room which doubles up as a group room. We also have good toilet facilities including showers and a toilet / washroom that is accessible to people with less mobility.
Outside, we have a bandstand in an area of garden at the front of the centre that was developed for our use with great support from R.O.K. – a building firm with an office nearby.
Behind the centre, we have an accessible garden with shaded areas for people to sit or to enjoy activities that are more energetic, particularly games such as Boccia or Skittles. We are developing a gardening area, which is wheelchair accessible, with raised beds and a polytunnel., to enable everyone interested in the gardens to take some responsibility for its upkeep
Structure
We have four base groups; - Creativity, Pottery, Art & Towards Choices. Students choose one of these groups based on their abilities and interests. Then the group as a whole decides what activities the group are going to do from a syllabus of subjects i.e. literacy, healthy living, music, gardening, art, sport & games, woodwork, pottery etc., then makes a plan, which could be for the following week, month or term, depending on the activity chosen. The students then work with their Group Leader to identify individual goals to achieve within the Project.
We also have a range of specific activities:-
• Music Group – runs 4 days per week and provides opportunities to anyone interested in music to actually get involved in music-making. The group have set up a band called “The Residentz” who write their own material, perform at local and national events with a mixture of “covers” and their own work and have recorded & released a C.D called “Cake” and are releasing “Quite Right” in Autumn 2006.
• Drama –The group was set up to explore issues that the Students find important i.e. relationships. They meet weekly, where they write their own plays and sketches, perform plays and have produced an audio play. They also enjoy poetry reading.
• Feelings – is a group for the Students to learn to understand their emotions and how to express them, how to deal with their feelings and how other people can help and support them.
• Our Project – is a group of Students who were asked to help change Freeways policies, to make them more accessible to the people living within Freeways homes. The group have produced accessible policies on “Special Occasions”, “Holidays”, “Transport”, “Welcome to your new home” and are now working on “Speaking Up” and “Relationships”.
• Student Voice – is a committee elected from the groups at Leigh Court which represents the opinions of the Students attending the Centre, enabling them to have their say about things they like or don’t like as well as organising activities such as Disco/Karaoke, seasonal parties and craft fayres.
Support
Each Student works with their Group Leader to produce a report at Christmas, Easter & in the Summer providing details of what they have been doing, what they liked or disliked, what areas they would like to develop in the future, what they have achieved and what they would like to achieve in the next term. The report is client led and is in an accessible format, containing pictures of activities and achievements where appropriate.
We work closely with the Students homes so that we can provide consistent support that meets the Students needs
Looking Forward
Leigh Court Day Centre has a 6 monthly PATH meeting with representatives from Students, Staff and specialist groups to set long term Aims and Objectives for the centre. We currently have some big ideas around catering, and how to open up the centre for broader community use and have goals around Student involvement in recruitment of staff, making the car park more user friendly and development of the back garden amongst other things.
Staffing
The Centre has a Co-ordinator, three Team Leaders, four group workers, a music instructor and two cleaners. Most staff have NVQ 3 or above, with newer staff working towards nationally recognised qualifications in working with people with a learning disability. A member of the management team regularly supervises each staff member. Staff are encouraged and supported to continually develop their skills and competences. Regular team meetings, training events and input from specialists form the basis of the developmental activity undertaken.
What people say about the Day Centre
“I make the drinks for the groups at the Day Centre. I like doing this and I also like doing it because I get paid!”
“I enjoy the fact that Leigh Court Day Centre is surrounded by woods and countryside which helps to make it a peaceful and relaxing place”
“I like being able to meet other Students from freeways houses at the Day Centre”
“I like coming to the Day Centre and doing singing and being a member of “Student Voice”.”
“I like coming to work at the Day Centre because of the surroundings and for the fact that two days are never the same!”
“I like being able to do arts & crafts”
“I like being able to do some gardening, helping to do the drinks for the group, helping out and seeing my friends that I have made at the Day Centre. I also like doing some painting.”
“Although I attend college too, I also like & enjoy coming to the Day Centre to meet other Students & Staff”
“I like working with the Group Leaders in Pottery & Music Groups.”
© Freeways Trust Ltd. Registered Company No. 2209114. Registered Charity No. 298603