Daytime opportunity services

Our Community Support Services Team provide support to people with learning disabilities to help them gain access to a wide range of community-based activities. These activities will promote and encourage choice, independence and inclusive engagement in local communities.

Before we can offer you the appropriate support we will need to assess your needs by carrying out a needs assessment. You can find out more about this process by visiting our Assessment of need - adults page.

Day Services

There is a range of day services throughout the borough:

Brooklands and Ystrad Mynach day centres currently provide a range of daytime opportunities for people with a learning disability including those with complex needs. The number of people attending Ystrad Mynach and Brooklands has decreased significantly due to the success of the modernisation of day services for people with a learning disability. Currently, between 32 – 35 people access Brooklands on a daily basis with a further 41 – 48 people per day accessing Ystrad Mynach. Both services offer a range of activities many of which are community based such as cycling, rambling, healthy walking and gardening. Both services also have areas that are specifically equipped or used to provide sensory activities such as music, dance and tactile activities.

There are also five community resource bases:

Markham Resource Base provides a service to approximately 12 service users per day over a five-day week. The people who access Markham are involved in activities within the local community including craft classes, archery and community education. Effective networking and partnerships have been crucial to the success of the group, an example of which is the sensory garden in the grounds of Markham which is both maintained and used by all members of the community including the local primary school.

The Retirement Group is based at the St Johns Ambulance Hall in Bryncenydd, Caerphilly. There are approximately 17 people who use this service on a daily basis. Service Users are supported to participate in activities of their choice many of which are community based. Some of the daytime opportunities enjoyed by the people who attend the Retirement Group are craft, reminiscence, lifelong learning classes such as watercolour and pottery, swimming, Indian Head Massage, and Ten Pin Bowling.

Gwerin Resource Base is located at Rhymney Community Centre, and there are approximately 18 people who use this service on a daily basis. The service provides support for people to develop skills and independence both at the resource base, and in the wider community. The people who attend Gwerin access a variety of community based activities that include college, work placements, involvement in a community allotment and Crown Green bowling all of which have been achieved by effective networking and partnership working.

Springfield Community Resource is located in Pontllanfraith and there are between13 –16 people who access the service on a daily basis. The people who access Springfield take part in a variety of daytime activities that include watercolour, music and drama college courses and community based activities. Springfield Community Resource is centrally located and it's pleasant setting is enjoyed by the people who attend. The service has also established good relationships with other community groups.

Ebenezer Resource Base is located within Ebenezer Chapel in Pengam and provides a service to between 13 – 15 people a day. Ebenezer has built up an excellent relationship with the chapel and the local community. The people who attend Ebenezer have a choice of daytime activities many of which are community based such as healthy walking and Nia Movement sessions. Successful partnership working has resulted in people being offered the opportunity to participate in coffee mornings, music and light sessions and college courses such as food hygiene awareness and drama.

Community based services

The Community Support Team The Community Support Team's ability to develop and sustain effective partnerships and networks enable them to support people on an individual basis to further develop and promote their personal development and independence. They provide a service that focuses on supporting people to pursue developmental and learning opportunities that include work and employment opportunities, travel training and vocational training. obtain employment opportunities, travel training

The Volunteer/Befriending Scheme aims to provide people with opportunities to establish and maintain friendships, socialise and access community activities and opportunities. Volunteers accompany service users to pursue their chosen activities, act as volunteer drivers or help to run the Risca and Rhymney Social Clubs that meet on a weekly basis. The scheme also provides transport when it is appropriate to do so.

The Links Project aims to provide a community-based service to people who have autism and behaviours that can challenge. The project enables people to pursue their daytime opportunities by being supported to access/participate in activities within the community. The opportunities offered would vary depending on the individual needs and interests of the service users who access the project.

Vocational and work based services

There are a number of community based services that provide employment and vocational training opportunities:

Windy ridge is an environmental/horticultural project that was established in partnership with the Llanfrechfa League of Friends. The primary aim of the project is to support people to have access to and develop skills in horticulture and caring for the environment. Related activities are available to service users who will work towards achieving individual goals and outcomes. Service users have the opportunity to work towards relevant Open College Network Qualifications that are provided on site by Ystrad Mynach College.

Blackberry Catering is operated from a fully equipped kitchen and provides the people who access the service with the opportunity to develop their catering skills. The people who access Blackberry Catering have a genuine interest in developing their catering skills and are required to be in receipt of a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate to enable them to access this service. Blackberry Catering provides a buffet service and service users are also involved in the delivering and presentation of buffets to organisations and individuals across the borough.

The Craft and Ceramic Project provides people with a learning disability with the opportunity to be involved in the creation of craft and ceramic items within a fully equipped workshop. Service users are able to work towards recognised Open College Network qualifications in craft, marketing and customer care.

The Garden Clearance Scheme was established as a joint initiative with the Supporting People Team. The aim of this scheme is to support a team of service users to clear gardens for those people in the county borough who are unable to maintain their own gardens. The service offers vocational training to people with a learning disability while pursuing a qualification in horticulture and preparation for future work opportunities.

Pont Woodcraft provides service users with opportunities to develop their woodwork skills and knowledge in a fully equipped workshop environment. Whilst developing these skills within the workshop, service users can also work towards recognised Open College Network qualifications in woodwork, health and safety and customer care. The main aim of the service is to prepare people with learning disabilities for future work opportunities and to develop and build upon existing skills.