ACTIVITIES
Developing skills and having choices
SWIMMING
There’s probably no activity that gets our blood pumping and faces grinning quite like swimming. For some service users it has been a huge milestone to go in a swimming pool. Some service users have set themselves big challenges to swim a certain amount of lengths in a set time frame. Either way with the right support we’re sure you’ll love it, learn something new, and definitely make some new friends in the process. Swimming uses all the muscles in the body so whether you swim gently or go really fast, you will get a full body workout. Plus, exercising in water makes your body work harder so 30 minutes in a pool is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land.
VOLUNTEERING
This can make a real difference both to the community they are serving in and to the service user taking part. This can help improve social skills, work based learning and self worth. Volunteering helps to break down social barriers and offer people an opportunity to socialise with people from different social and cultural backgrounds. Studies have found that when you stop thinking about your own problems and focus on someone other than yourself, your stress levels start to decrease, your immune system is strengthened and your overall sense of life satisfaction increases. This is because helping someone else interrupts tension-producing patterns and replaces it with a sense of purpose, positive emotions and high confidence levels. Employers love a candidate with a range of soft skills and luckily, volunteering gives you plenty of those. You are faced with problems on a daily basis, you have to deal with a mix of personalities and all while adjusting to life outside of your comfort zone. This all adds up and helps to improve your teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and people skills.
GREENACRES
A forward thinking Work Based Training site which offers support and day care for adults with learning disabilities. They help their customers lead fulfilling and enjoyable lives through their supportive care and training facilities, providing a friendly environment with a focus on hands on learning. Vocational Work Based Training enables adults with learning disabilities to gain knowledge, skills and confidence, enhancing their opportunities for employment in the future. The services teach skills dedicated to the catering, hospitality and horticulture sector.
(photo from ECL website)
HORSERIDING
RDA delivers physical benefits, boosts confidence, improves communication skills and helps to build relationships. We know our activities support our clients’ education and learning, and that having the opportunity to compete improves confidence in daily life. RDA activities improve general fitness and physical health as well as specific areas such as mobility, motor function, core strength and balance. Living with disability in the UK still means an increased risk of social isolation and lack of self-confidence. RDA’s activities build friendships, a sense of belonging, confidence and self-esteem. It provides access to a fun, healthy activity, and a way of enjoying the outdoors.
PERSONAL TRAINER
Everybody is different, and that means everyone’s abilities and requirements are different when it comes to exercise. This could be anything from having an old injury that requires special exercises to having a phobia that may impact on where or how you workout. A Personal Trainer will not only help you set realistic goals that you will be able to achieve - if you put in the effort, of course - but they will also be able to keep you on track to hit those goals. Having a PT to help with your exercise plan when you suffer from mental health problems can help with motivation, with choosing the right exercises to release the most endorphins, and also just to have another shoulder to lean on.
MENS GROUP
Mens group is a more specific activity available at T McTaggart Ltd, but also an undisputed favourite. This group does what it says on the tin allows men to be men and have that safe space to have discussions. The support industry is very female dominated, which sadly impacts on the men with learning disabilities as they can sometimes miss out on that male role model and direction. This group allows for some small group interactions just for their needs. Activities range from darts to Ludo weather dependent.
GIRLGUIDING UK
There are so many life-changing experiences you can have through Girlguiding – flying down a zip wire for the first time, finding the courage to stand up and speak out on an issue they care about, going on their very first camp away from home. Through fun, friendship, challenge and adventure, and within a safe girl-only space, Girlguiding members discover their full potential, changing their own lives and the world around them for the better. Some of our service users enjoy helping out at a local unit or taking part within a unit, both are great links within their local community. Close community links are important in building your own self worth and friendships.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Lots of our adults have been enjoying the sense of achievement when completing a particular project. Crafting really helps improve concentration, patience and co-ordination and helps to build stronger bonds between staff and service users alike. We can help you to find something to suit your interest and abilities.
GRAPEVINE ESSEX
This is a local club specifically set up to enable adults with learning disabilities to social with their peers in a safe environment whilst taking part in a wide range of activities. This is both a term time weekly club and arranges an amazing array of trips and mini breaks during the holiday periods. Take at look at our blog page for more information.
PARK RUN
Parkrun is not a race against other runners, but a 5k timed run and it can really be whatever you want it to be, whether that's for fun or as part of a training plan. It offers an opportunity for all the local community, male or female, young or old, to come together on a regular basis to enjoy this beautiful park and get physically active into the bargain. We want to encourage people to jog or run together irrespective of their ability – this event is truly open to all and best of all it really is FREE! Taking part is easy – just register before your first ever parkrun. The great thing is that you only ever need to do this once! Then just set your alarm for Saturday morning and get yourself there! After the run, if you don’t have to get off straight away, there will be the chance to socialise with everyone to maybe swap stories about your run that day, chat to other runners over a cup of tea or coffee and just be an important part of this new running community. So whether you are a complete novice looking to get yourself started on your own "running journey" or a seasoned athlete wanting to use this as a part of your training schedule, you’re welcome to come along and join us.