A BRAND-NEW day centre for young people with disabilities across the Vale has officially opened its doors.
Freedom Day Centre, at The Pub in a Club, Badsey, was opened to the community on Wednesday by the Deputy Mayor of Evesham, Coun Mark Goodge, in partnership with supported living provider Eden Futures.
The celebratory event saw an array of activities take place throughout the day, including an ‘Evesham’s Got Talent’ competition, a ‘Guess the Name of the Bear’ game, a tombola and a colouring competition, whilst the new Freedom Café offered a range of food and refreshments.
The centre will provide educational and fun activities for adults with learning disabilities to encourage independence and break down barriers within the community.
Users can take part in cookery, computer workshops, exercise classes, woodwork, arts and crafts, music, dance, gardening and the opportunity to work in the community café.
The brainchild and manager of the centre, Tracey Hemming, launched her weekly ‘Freedom Discos’ for disabled children and young adults back in March 2016, after being left disheartened following the closure of Evesham’s Marilyn’s nightclub disco for the disabled.
Through community fund-raising and donations totalling £10,000, she has since secured the keys to a new wheelchair-adapted minibus to transport disabled children to and from the discos.
Tracey, who has a disabled son who attends the discos, and her brother Rob Welch, recently became the first joint winners of The Badsey Society’s ‘Tony Jerram Award’, for their exceptional work in the community.
Tracey told the Observer: “An anonymous parent of a disco member gave me an amazing donation of £10,000. Then I was lucky to have more donations from Evesham’s John Martin’s Charity, Evesham Round Table, Evesham Rotary Club, Wellesbourne & District Lions Club, Mencap and Badsey & Aldington Parish Council.
“Karndean then donated flooring and Pete Vale from The Painted kitchen Company kindly laid it for us. Cotswold First Aid, Dovetail Joinery and First-Base Solutions also donated their time and equipment to the centre.
“I’ve got an amazing husband who’s gone through every selling site to buy all the furniture at cheap prices to make the money go further. We travelled most of the country at weekends.
“I believe we’re the first rural village to offer this kind of service, so I feel this will be a great thing for Badsey and bring the wider community together.
“Sadly, there are still a lot of people who don’t know how to react when in an environment with people who have learning disabilities, so this will be a great way to show people just what they can offer. Hopefully people will see why I’m so passionate to make this a success.
“We’re really looking forward to encouraging as many individuals as possible to go out into the community, make new friends and gain invaluable experiences that will enhance their lives for the better.”
Konstantin Petrov, area manager central west at Eden Futures, added: “We’re really looking forward to the opportunities the Freedom Day Centre will offer to those we support.
“We strongly urge people in the community to come along and find out more about it.”
A minibus is on offer for anyone with a disability who wishes to attend.
Call the centre on 01386 833465 or e-mail [email protected] to book transportation or for more information.
Visit www.freedomdaycentre.co.uk for more information on the centre.
