Gateway Clubs
More than 700 local clubs all over the country offering social and leisure activities
for people over 16 years of age, aimed at individuals with a learning disability.
Gateway clubs help people with a learning disability take part in leisure, social
and creative activities in the community, and provide opportunities for personal
development. Carers are not encouraged to attend, purely to enable individuals
to have 'their own space'. Membership is charged at a weekly rate and transport
is available at a small cost. Gateway is the leisure arm of Mencap. Projects
and Gateway Award groups cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Address: Mencap, 123 Golden Lane, London EC1Y ORT, UK.
Tel: 020 7454 0454
Fax: 020 7696 5540
Email: information@mencap.org.uk
Website: www.mencap.org.uk
PHAB
A national charity dedicated to promoting and encouraging the coming together,
on equal terms, of disabled and non-disabled people to achieve an integrated
and inclusive society. They have a network of social clubs across the UK and
also organise residential activity holidays.
Address: Summit House, Wandle Road, Croydon CR0 1DF, UK
Tel: 020 8667 9443
Fax: 020 8681 1399
Email: info@phabengland.org.uk
Website: www.phabengland.org.uk
PHAB (NI) Independent Living Limited
Address: Independent Living, 3 Jennymount Court, North Derby Street, BELFAST,
BT15 3HN
Tel: 028 9075 8912
Fax: 028 9074 4321
Email: info@phabni.org
Website: www.phabni.org
PHAB Scotland
Address: Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Tel: 0131 475 2313
Email: info@fabb.org.uk
Website: www.fabb.org.uk
People First
Independent self-advocacy for people with learning Disabilities, providing some
opportunities to meet up.
Address: 3rd Floor, 299 Kentish Town Road, London NWS 2TJ
Tel: 020 7485 6660
People First Scotland
Address: 34b Haddington Place, Edinburgh EH7 4AG
Tel: 0131 478 7707
Email: p1stscot@aol.com
SCOPE
Local groups affiliated to Scope vary in size, activities and service provision.
Some are small with limited funds whilst others are large organisations with
paid employees. For example, the Inner London Scope is a monthly social club
for disabled adults which meets at the Age Concern Centre in Maida Vale. There
is an informal information and support service for club membersYou can contact
local groups through the local Community Team office.
Cerebral Palsy Helpline: 0808 800 3333
Address: Scope, 6 Market Road, London N7 9PW, England
Tel: 020 7619 7100
Stars in the Sky
Stars in the Sky is a dating and friendship service for adults with learning difficulties. We are based in Haringey, London, UK.
To join you have to:
Have a learning disability/difficulty, be over the age of 18 , Live in London. It costs five pounds a year to join Stars in the Sky. As a member you will be invited to all events. You will be able to meet people on a one to one basis or in a group. There will be no pressure on you to do anything. Stars in the Sky will support you on your first one to one meeting. Some events will be free some will cost a small amount of money.
Events include:
Asian Elders Support Scheme - London
AESS provides Homecare services to Asian older people, and Asian people with
learning disabilities. A lunch club is in operation Monday to Friday, Asian
vegetarian meals are cooked on the premises on a daily basis. Also manage a
Sheltered Housing Scheme for Asian older people. Have recently started a Day
Centre, again Monday to Friday, and provide transport, meals and daily activities.
Access to the Homecare and Day Centre is via assessment by social workers. Opening
Times: 9.30am-5.30pm
Address: 5 Beechcroft Road, London SW17 7BU
Tel: 020 8767 5455
Atheldene Resource Centre - Tooting
Combined centre includes provision for people with learning disabilities. Access
can be made only by referrals from Social Services. Opening Times: 9am to 5pm
Mon to Fri with outreach activities evening and weekends.
Address: 305 Garratt Lane, London, SW18 4EQ
Tel: 020 8871 7779
Beautiful Octopus and Squidz Club - London
Arts based performance and disco nights
Address: Albany Theatre, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG
Tel: 020 8694 1632
Email: clare@heartnsoul.co.uk OR heartnsoul@compuserve.com
Beautiful Octopus - Leeds
For more details about the club nights or the Leeds Octopus Crew please contact
Ruth Hannant, Creative Communities Manager:
Terl: 0113 213 7295
Email: ruth.hannant@wyp.org.uk
Battersea Social Education Centre
Offers a range of day activities for people with learning disabilities. Opening
Times: 8.30am-4.30pm Monday – Friday
Address: 50 Thessaly Road, London, SW8 4XS
Tel: 020 7622 4577
Bubble Club
monthly night club (2nd Wednesday in the month) held at the Rhythmn Factory in London's Whitechapel, run by people with learning disabilities coordinated by the Map Squad
Tel: 020 7247 2262.
Burntwood Social Education Centre - Streatham
Offers a range of day activities for people with learning disabilities. Opening
Times: 8.30am-4.45pm
Address: c/o Springfield Hospital, 61 Glenburnie Road, London, SW17 7DJ
Tel: 020 8767 1850
Circles Network - Rugby
Provide unique personal support for people who are in danger of becoming socially
excluded, or who are currently suffering the consequences of prior segregation
and discrimination.
Address: Potford's Dam Farm, Coventry Road, Cawston, Rugby, Warwickshire CV23
9JP
Tel: 01788 816671
Fax: 01788 816672
Email: info@circlesnetwork.org.uk
Website: www.circlesnetwork.org.uk
Community Link-Up - Pinner
Supporting people with learning disabilities in realising their full potentials.
Empowering people with learning disabilities to set up their own projects. These
include:
Funky Flamingo - Cambridge
Run by Speaking Up.
Tel: 01223 566 258
Website: www.speakingup.org.uk
The Graingers Club - Coventry
A social club for mostly young people with learning disabilities. Various sports
are tried and experts come to give training as and when requested. Arts and
crafts, drama and dance sessions are also on the programme as are trips to the
Mega-bowl. Meet - 6.30 - 8.30pm (Term Time Only)
Carol Bromley - 01926 857422
Interplay - Swansea
Interplay is a project to integrate young people with special needs into play
and leisure opportunities in their community.
Address: 116 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5RE
Tel: 01792 475938
Website: www.interplay.org.uk
Olympic Club
Social club for adults aged 18 years and over who have learning disabilities
but are reasonably independant. There are oppertunities to meet others, make
new friends, play skittles or darts, dance to the weekly disco or just have
a drink at the licensed bar. The club meet on Mondays from 7.30pm - 10.00pm.
Address: Joan French – Secretary, Gas Board Social Club, Gypsy Lane, Swindon
Tel: 01793 636644 or 01793 694601
Relationship Support Service
Pilot project to provide dates and support to people with learning disablibities
in Hertfordshire, Hounslow, Harrow and Brent. Applicants need a sponsor who
helps with transport and they are interviewed before being accepted. Workshops
and counselling can be provided.
Tel: 01923 670793
SHARE Community, Battersea
Training & rehabilitation for physically disabled adults and people with
mental health problems or learning disabilities. Offers training, qualifications,
with job search activities & work placements. Provides informal counselling
& support & individual tuition where possible. Also yoga, creative writing,
art and craft workshops, healthy living, sports and outings.
Address: 64 Altenburg Gardens, London, SW11 1JL
Tel: 020 7801 9812
SNAC - Thorrock, Essex
Special Needs Activity Club (SNAC) for special needs people in the Thurrock
area. We cater for special recreational needs, provide for their social integration
skills and reduce isolation.
Address: Dilkeswood, Darenth Lane, South Ockendon, Essex, RM15 5RS
Spectrum Club - High Wycombe
A youth club for teenagers with Asperger syndrome or higher functioning autism.
Email: ann@autismbucks.co.uk
Website: www.autismbucks.co.uk
Spikes - Swindon
Spikes is both a sports and a social club for people with physical and learning
disabilities, their families and carers. They have a range of sporting activities
catered for such as pool, table tennis, table top games, darts and many more.
The club also offers a chance for you to meet new friends and helps with general
recreation and fun. The club is held on Monday evenings from 7.00pm –
9.30pm. Referral through the Chair Norman Hammett as there may be a waiting
list to attend.
Address: Norman Hammett, Emlyn Square Community Centre, Faringdon Road, Swindon
Tel: 01793 338475
Stepping Stones Club - Shetlands
This organisation offers respite care to parents and families of people with
learning disabilities and an evening social club for people with learning disabilities
(who are able to attend unaccompanied) using volunteer carers. Meetings are
held every two weeks at the Freefield Centre. Transport is available in Lerwick.
Tel: 01595 693966
St George's Pop-In - Camberwell
Set up in response to service users saying to Choice Support staff that they
were bored at weekends and in the evenings, and that they wanted more opportunities
to meet friends.
Address: 100 Westminister Bridge Road, London, SE1 7XA
Tel: 0207 261 4100
Fax: 0207 261 4148
Vision of Life - York
An independent voluntary organisation which puts people with learning disabilities
needs first. Provides a wide range of support 7 days a week and social events.
Address: Martin Taylor PO Box 466, York,YO23 1ZN
Tel: 01904 673314
Email: VisionOfLife@aol.com
Whitecross Club - Swindon
The club offers the oppertunity to meet with others and make new friends. Disco's
are arranged as well as theatre trips, outings, crafts, darts, snooker and table
tennis. A tuck shop is available and there is a charge for the group. The club
meets every Wednesday and transport may be available.There is a charge for this
service.
Address: Whitecross Club, Council Office Recreational Hall, High Street, Highworth,
near Swindon
Tel: 01793 466728
You And I Dating
YAI/NIPD is an award-winning, nationally acclaimed network of not-for-profit
health and human services agencies dedicated to building brighter futures for
people with disabilities of all ages and their families. They run a Social Skills
Building/Dating Programme for People with Developmental Disabilities. Applicants
are screened, they have a three hour social which includes three half-hour workshops
in social skills, HIV/AIDS education, how to recognise a potentially abusive
situation and how to move safely from a dangerous situation, initiating conversations,
beauty and grooming and expanding recreational choices, etc. Businesses and
services have donated maps, magazines, coupons, cosmetics and toiletries for
member gift bags. Events are videoed so that a wider range of people can become
potential partners. Staff follow up dates to find out how the connection went.
Address: Bobra Fyne, YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities, 460
West 34th St., NY, NY 10001-2382.
Tel: 212-273-6182
Email: bobra.fyne@yai.org