Settling in at new home
After settling in to their new home a charity that supports people with learning disabilities has held an official opening.
Reach Learning Disability is based at Hawtonville Community Centre, Newark, after moving from the town centre earlier this year because it needed more room.
The official opening included speeches from service users, a dance performance, a premier of a Lego movie, which service users created, a raffle, plus food and drink.
The new base was officially opened by Mr Keith Walker, chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, which owns the community centre.
Chantelle Welsher, centre manager, said: “The service users have settled in amazingly.
“After the first week we felt like we had been here forever.
“The accessibility is amazing. We are now all on one level and feel like a part of the community.
“It allows us to put on more classes. We can have photographs and noticeboards on the walls, and we can leave things out because we aren’t sharing a space.
“It is our home.”
Reach was based at Barnbygate Methodist Church Hall, Newark, for nine years before the move.
The new premises have a small garden area that service users have revamped to include a herb garden, flower bed, and two benches.
Businesses including Marks and Spencer, Finest Finish Interiors, Turnbull and Timico donated items or money for the garden.
Julia Sandhu, fundraising director for Reach, said: “The community centre allows people the opportunity to meet others and make new friends in a supportive environment.
“There are lots of courses going on everyday that enable service users to learn practical skills and, more importantly, build confidence and feel part of the community.”
One of the service users, Phil Cree, said: “I like it here. It is a nice new place and a lot easier for me to get to.
“I get involved with a lot of activities, like working on computers, going to the Flower Pod at Brackenhurst, gardening and sports.”
Reach started in 1999 and has four bases — in Newark, Southwell, Mansfield and the Flower Pod. The charity supports more than 200 people with learning disabilities in Nottinghamshire.
