Learning Difficulties
Strawberry Club, Street- Social group for adults with learning difficulties
Strawberry Club meet at The Salvation Army, Goswell Road, Street, BA16 0JG on a Monday 5.30pm – 7.00pm. They welcome any adults with learning difficulties. Craft and other activities are available as well as refreshments.
Cost is £2.00 per session.
The Orchard Vale Community Gardening Project – Wells
This project aims to benefit people with learning disabilities and people who are isolated, elderly or vulnerable in the community. A gardening service, led by adults with learning disabilities will be available to people in the community who are unable to care for their gardens themselves.
The activities include: Garden assessments – Garden maintenance – Garden waste disposal and some planting. Call the number below, leave your contact name and number and the jobs you would like done and the gardening team will call you back.
Somerset’s Children with Disabilities Service
The team works closely with colleagues in the health and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities services.
The Pod Youth Club
An exciting club for young people with additional needs aged 10 to 17. Trips out. Have fun. Make friends. Tuesdays 6.00pm-8.00pm at Vallis Youth & Community Centre, Frome, BA11 3EF. Call us to discuss places as they are limited.
The Pod Plus
This is a social group for people with additional needs aged between 18 to 30 where you can make friends, learn new skills, and have fun! Mondays 7.00pm-9.00pm at the HUBnub Centre, Whittox Lane, Frome, BA11 3BY. Places are limited so please contact us to book.
Frome Falcons Powerchair Football club
Bi-weekly on a Saturday from 1pm-3pm at Frome Sport and Fitness, Princess Anne Road, Frome BA11 2SA.
For 5 years + £5 per person per session
Contact Jenny on 07880 743453
Please note this club is for individuals with physical disabilities and their siblings.
Participants do not need to be regular powerchair users or manual wheelchair users, nor own their own chairs.
Frome Get Wet Set
Swimming and hydrotherapy sessions for children and young people with a disability or additional need aged between 5-16 years. The opportunity to develop water confidence, water skills and therapeutic movement in the water.
Harry’s Hydro pool, adjacent to Critchill School, Nunney Road, Frome BA11 4LB.
From 4- 6 pm. (3 x 40 mins swim slots available) £5 per session per person or £50 per term.
Contact Alison on 01373 465985 for more information or to book.
Services for adults with learning disabilities
Orchard Vale Trust is a local charity offering residential, day and community services to adults with learning disabilities.
Orchard Vale Trust offer opportunities that enable people to develop social, communication and independent living skills, so that they are able to feel more connected and engaged within their local communities. People are given the opportunity to learn new skills and gain meaningful work experience. They also offer opportunities that improve health and wellbeing such as supporting adults with learning disabilities to understand the importance of increasing physical activity, healthy eating and having fun.
The opportunities are offered in various locations within the Mendip area. Free taster sessions are available for anyone interested in any opportunities available, but please note that there are charges associated for attending further sessions.
If you are interested in finding out more about these opportunities, please contact Lisa Pearce on either of the numbers below, or come along to one of the following drop in sessions:
Wells Library : Every Wednesday from 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Shepton Mallet Library:Every Tuesday from 10:30am to 1.00pm
Cheddar Library: Every Monday from 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Crispin Centre: Every Wednesday from 10.00am to 12.00pm
The drop in sessions are for adults with learning disabilities to attend and to find out more about what is available in their local area.
This is also a great opportunity for people to share their interests and needs and for us to see how we can support adults with learning disabilities in the best way.
KeyRing Talking Café – Frome
KeyRing Talking Cafe for people who have a care and support need.
Meet new people, make friends and chat to a Community Connector about activities, support groups and services in your community. Drop in.
Where: Frome Medical Centre, upstairs in the Boardroom
When: Last Wednesday of the month, 10am—12 noon
Keyring Employment Hub
Keyring employment Hub The Cheese and Grain every Thursday from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.
Develop your CV search for jobs including volunteering.
Library Free Talking Books Service
You can borrow talking books free of charge, if you are registered with a visual impairment, are unable to hold or use printed material due to a physical disability or if you are dyslexic.
Open Story Tellers
Openstorytellers is a charity that works with people who are marginalised because of learning and communication difficulties. People with learning disabilities may find it hard to tell and recall stories because of difficulties in learning and communication or because people do not listen. The service seeks to remove these barriers and give people the skills to share all sorts of stories: myths, legends, folktales and personal experiences, so they can be heard, understood and have choices in life.
Openstorytellers’ day activities are paid for by personal budgets, direct payments or through self-funding. We offer both full and half day options.
Our friendship groups and holiday projects are pay as you go and generally cost from £4.00–£8.00 a session.
The ‘Our Voices’ group is free of charge.
For more information contact the email address below for Wells and Frome areas.
Glastonbury – Call Penmeare Farm, Glastonbury, BA6 9SN.
Glastonbury – Call Westhay Opportunity Centre, Glastonbury, BA6 9TT.
Please contact Somerset Direct (www.SomersetChoices.org.uk) for funding information.
Easyhealth website
Created so that people know where to find ‘accessible’ health information. ‘Accessible’ information is information that uses easy words with pictures covering food and exercise; informative health videos and useful health advice. There are over 500 leaflets on Easyhealth made by many different organisations. You can print off nearly all the leaflets straight away.
Supporting Disabled In Need
We may be able to help people in need, living in the South West, with funding for respite holidays, days away, taxis etc. Registered charity 1069330
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB),
Available to everyone affected by sight loss. Whether you’re losing your sight, blind or partially sighted, our practical and emotional support can help you face the future with confidence. Services include talking library books, specialist education for children young people and learning disability support. Services such as e-Learning courses are also provided to businesses, support workers and individuals to help understand and accommodate people affected by sight loss.
Concessionary Bus Pass – Transporting Somerset
English National Concessionary Travel Scheme Passes are available for residents of Somerset who are of pensionable age or eligible on the grounds of disability. The pass allows you to travel free on buses in every area of England subject to certain time restrictions. Download application form online or contact Transporting Somerset who will post form.