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In
1993 Hamelin Trust expanded its services
by opening The Exchange, a small resource
centre in Wickford, Essex, providing
daytime and evening activities for adults
with learning disabilities.
The
service aims to provide a resource
centre for local people from which
community based opportunities can
be coordinated.
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Opportunities
are provided to engage in a range of activities
in areas such as leisure/recreation, practical
tasks, education, personal skills development,
health and beauty and any other preferred activities
in which individuals may choose to participate,
at both the Exchange and within the wider community.
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The
Exchange is wheelchair-accessible throughout
and provides a number of different areas such
as a fully equipped sensory room, a one to one
teaching and computer room and two main areas
where users can enjoy a range of recreational
activities, receive specialist support such
as physiotherapy / mobility exercises or simply
enjoy the positive social aspect of the Exchange.
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The
one to one room provides a quiet area where
individual activities may be undertaken including
general interaction, skill teaching, intensive
interaction or where service users can enjoy
some individual time with a staff member. Individuals
involved in working towards an ASDAN qualification
may also use the room at times. The service
is a registered provider of the ASDAN scheme
and encourages individuals to undertake the
“Towards Independence” award. |
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The
Exchange supports the principles of “Inclusive
Communication” and aims to maintain an
environment where individuals have the resources
required and the opportunity to communicate
using their preferred method. |
Many
of the people who attend the Exchange have additional
support needs such as physical and/or sensory
impairments or display behaviours that may present
as challenging, however, in order to access
the service, the individual’s primary
support need must be their learning disability.
The
number of sessions anyone attends is determined
by an assessment of need, which is carried out
by Social Services and Hamelin Trust. The Exchange
can arrange transport for those who need assistance
in travelling to the resource centre. However,
the facility is situated near the town centre
and is easy to reach by bus, train, on foot
or using a wheelchair.
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