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Transformation Newsletter!

January 2016

Read about our current plans for Day Opportunities

written by Julie Bennett, Service Manager for Day

Opportunities.

The Co-Production Group will continue to meet in 2016

to discuss ways we can continue to develop Day

Opportunities.

Welcome to the 7th edition

of Our Journey Together

PRETTY THINGS—VALENTINES DAY

We make seasonal, handcrafted jewellery, trinkets

and confectionary.

We are currently making a range of Valentine's

and Mother's Day gifts, marshmallow cones,

decorative photo frames and dainty cord bracelets

If you would like to purchase any of our gifts,

or would like us to showcase our goods at your

workplace,

please email us at prettythingspe1@gmail.com

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The Friends Discos

The “Friends Discos” are holding a valentines disco on

13th February 2016

and an Easter disco on 19th March 2016

The discos are held at the Millfield Community Centre.

This is a social disco for adults over 18 years of age with learning disabilities.

Younger people need accompanying as the venue is licensed.

The community centre is fully wheelchair accessible.

There is a licensed bar where you can buy soft or alcoholic drinks.

All tickets have to be booked in advance; no tickets are sold on the door, but can

be collected if paid for.

Tickets are on sale at Club 73, 49 Lincoln Road and from Steve Ball at Westcombe

Square. Please telephone Steve Ball on 07754 206012 to book tickets and for

future dates or further information.

Tickets cost £3.00 which includes a fish & chip or similar supper and a dessert.

Please ask if you require a vegetarian option.

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AN UPDATE ON PLANS FOR DAY OPPORTUNITIES

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

In our November/December 2015 edition of Our

Journey Together, we highlighted some of the

work that has happened during 2015 across Day

Opportunities.

We are now taking our next steps in transforming

Day Opportunities support which includes our future

sites, transports and staffing.

Over the past few weeks we have invited staff, the

people we support, parents and carers to hear about

the planned changes and many attended presentations

or contacted us direct to find out more.

As we continue to move forward more information will

be provided.

If you have any questions or ideas please continue

to contact your centre manager or a change

champion. Or you can contact either Julie Bennett

or Pat Carrington. All details can be found on the

back page.

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CURRENT PLANS

Transport

Some people who use Kingfisher, Fletton Avenue and Westcombe are currently picked up and dropped off by our buses. The same people will continue to be picked up and dropped off using new buses or by taxi.

There is no change to eligibility to use the transport or the money you have to pay for it.

The buses will be used to take people from Kingfisher and the hubs to daytime activities. We can also use the buses and vans at Brook Street and we are looking to buy 2 vans for our supported enterprises. .We will continue to help people use public transport if needed.

Sites

We have looked at all the current sites to see if they are

suitable for the future. Some of the questions we asked

were:

Can everyone get to all parts of the building? If the

building has a first or second floor can all people use

upstairs safely?

Is the building near a bus stop?

Is there parking nearby and can people get dropped

off safely?

Can the building be changed within budget?

We then decided whether a building was suitable for the

future and agreed to have 4 sites. These are:

1.City Centre Hub

2.Employability Hub

3.Industrial Hub

4.The Kingfisher Centre and Hub

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A CITY CENTRE HUB

This will be on the ground floor of Rainey building at Brook Street and will include:

An area for group activity

3 small quiet rooms

A computer area

A kitchen for skills development

A coffee lounge/social area

Changing/showering provision and accessible toilets

An arts and crafts room

Pretty Things, Friendly Fruit Company, Meet & Treat,

Breakfast Club and 49 Arts and Crafts supported

enterprises

A staff office

Day Opportunities will continue to be use other rooms at

the College’s Brook Street and John Mansfield sites.

AN EMPLOYABILITY HUB

This will be based at 441 Lincoln Road and plans include:

Support to help people get and keep a paid job or

voluntary work or work experience that is right for

them

The Digital CV project

Royce Rolls, Peterborough Crease Control and 49

Laundry Service supported enterprises

Changing and showering provision

A coffee lounge and social area

Computer area and training room

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THE KINGFISHER CENTRE AND HUB

Cabinet have said that people with complex needs

should be supported at the Kingfisher Centre and it is

important that people do not become isolated.

Therefore we are planning to have a hub and supported

enterprise at Kingfisher. It will include:

Social areas and places for group sessions

A computer area

A new Fountain Bar supported enterprise

Safe outdoor space

A spa for therapeutic support

An extra shower room and a room for people who

use a PEG

A bigger kitchen for staff to prepare meals and to

support people to learn to make meals, snacks,

drinks

Small rooms for people who need a quiet space

New walls and ceilings in areas such as the dining

hall, sensory and therapy rooms and the entrance

We will also be buying new equipment to support people

with complex needs such as walkers and suitable

seating so that people can come out of their

wheelchairs.

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Buildings that will close

17 Fletton Avenue and 49 Lincoln Road will close. 1-2 Westcombe Square

will also close when a new building has been found. There will be no

change in support but people may move to a different building. People will

be given support to move to different buildings.

THE INDUSTRIAL HUB

We have been told that the building at Westcombe Square

cannot be changed to give more space for work activities or

a hub and changing and showering facilities. It is also a long

way from a bus stop.

The Council have been helping us to look for a different

building that has good and safe outdoor space but we haven’t

found one yet. We will continue to look and have saved some

of the money from the £500,000 that the Council gave us to

make changes to the building when we have it.

People who currently use 17 Fletton Avenue:

We have plans in place for each person. Many people who will

transfer to Kingfisher Centre have already been going there.

Many people have also been going to Brook Street where the

City Centre hub will be. Staff members who have supported

people in Pretty Things at Brook Street in the last 4 months

have said:

“we have noticed individuals in the group becoming more inde-pendent when accessing college facilities such as the canteen. Choosing and buying refreshments has encouraged choice, em-powerment and the development of money skills.

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Being part of the college has enabled the people we support to

interact with other college learners, tutors, campus staff and

members of the public which has aided confidence,

communication and social interaction. The college location

(near town) is ideal for sourcing and purchasing stock for our

supported enterprise, without having to always rely on

transport.”

People we support in Pretty Things have said:

“I prefer it here. There’s more room” “It’s good having a canteen. I’d miss my hot chocolate” “I do get happier when I come here. I like the people in the group” “I’ve learnt how to do new things. It’s fun and exciting”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world”

“Good College”

“I like all the college. I like the canteen hot chocolate”

“I like the canteen, sitting and eating my food”

People have continued to access the community such as Paston

Farm to do arts and crafts and St Georges Pool

For people who currently use Kingfisher Centre:

People with complex needs will continue to use Kingfisher and

we will have plans for each person to support them as building

works happen. Everyone else will be given individual support to

use the hubs that meet their individual needs and choice.

For people who currently use 49 Lincoln Road: Support will

be given to transfer to the hubs as they develop including

supported group tours and travel support

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For people who currently use 1-2 Westcombe Square:

Support will be given to transfer once the new site has been

agreed.

For people who currently use 441 Lincoln Road: Support

will be given to people who work in Royce Rolls and

Peterborough Crease Control to use alternative sites during

building works

If you would like more information on support needed to

change buildings, please contact your centre manager or

change champion. The numbers are on the back page of

this newsletter.

SUMMARY

We think that our plans will help people get a better service that meets

individual needs and meet the requirements of Cabinet.

We think there are further opportunities for investment through grants

and fundraising. You will hear more about this in the future.

We will hold open days as our buildings change and visits can be made by

appointment.

Staffing

There will be no impact on the number of support hours provided. We

have increased the number of staff who provide direct support to

people and we only use agency staff when we absolutely have to.

There is currently a proposal which includes making three staff

members redundant however these will not be to front line staff. We

are currently consulting with impacted staff. We are also proposing to

recruit a Lead Job Coach and an apprentice to support Digital CV’s.

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Kingfisher Centre Becca Spires, Chris Worley 207297

17 Fletton Ave Elisabeth Hamilton 890093

49 Lincoln Rd James Hayes, Ian Worley 207299

441 Lincoln Rd,Employment Kieran Wightman 864652

Westcombe Square Louise Willmott 452 662

Comments and Ideas

Write down any ideas or comments you have which we can bring to the next

Co-Production meeting .

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Julie Bennett & Balwinder Gill

dayopportunities@citycollegepeterborough.ac.uk

Change Champions!

We have Change Champions in each of our locations.

If you have any concerns, ideas or just want an

update, please find your Champion.

Pass to your Change Champion or drop in to City College,

Peterborough for attention of Julie Bennett, Service Manager

for Employment, Learning and Community Access. Thank You