Norwood has launched a new social group in Berkshire in partnership with Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap.
The group, called '@ the Acorn', gives people with profound and multiple learning disabilities the chance to meet new friends and take part in fun activities. It has been running every Tuesday since 6 September at the Acorn Community Centre in Wokingham and is already attended by more than 20 people who use Norwood’s services and from the wider community.
The group is led by staff from the specialist Pamela Barnett Centre at Ravenswood, which is Norwood's residential community for adults with learning disabilities in Crowthorne. Each week, they plan a range of activities, including hockey, football, skittles and arts and crafts.
Leahanne Black, Manager of the Pamela Barnett Centre, said: “Our staff identified a real need for this service. The people we support were telling us they wanted to go out and meet and make friends with people from outside Ravenswood, so we looked at ways in which this could be achieved.
“This is also a good example of Norwood working in partnership with other organisations, such as Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap, to provide services that are much needed in the community. We’ve also had some fantastic feedback from families in the local area for which this is vital respite.”
One enthusiastic family carer said the group provided a good opportunity to meet and network with other carers of people with complex needs. Meanwhile, a support worker said that the person she supports came back from the group full of enthusiasm and felt included in the activities.
Channah Marks a group member, who lives at the Pamela Barnett Centre, is one of those who benefits from the group.
“I enjoy going to the social group each week,” she said. “I have made some new friends and enjoy chatting with them and playing games. I enjoy the skittles tournament and the hockey. The parachute games which we play at the end always make us all laugh.”
Channah is also being employed by Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board to look into how accessible community buildings are for people with physical and learning disabilities.
Norwood provides two senior Pamela Barnett staff, while additional funding from Wokingham Borough Council Aiming High and the WLDPB has been secured by Wokingham, Bracknell & Districts Mencap. This is supplemented by a weekly charge of £2 for a two-hour session, which includes refreshments.
For more information about ‘@ the Acorn’, contact Leahanne Black at leahanne.black@norwood.org.uk or on 01344 755 625 or Heather Young at admin@wokinghammencap.org or on 0118 9798539.
