The Opportunity Centre runs in Ponders End and offers a varied range of activities for adults with a learning disability during the day (Monday to Friday)
The Opportuniy Centre has been running since 1998, providing a service for up to 22 people with a learning disability.
The philosophy of the Centre is to enable the service users to take as full a part in ordinary life as they can. Each user is encouraged to live his or her life to the full. They take part in a wide range of activities, including shopping, going to the cinema, going to the pub etc etc - it's an opportunity for them to do what they want to do.
The Centre offers a hot meal at lunchtime, usually prepared by the service users with support from the staff.
We currently support service users to attend Capel Manor College to access a gardening and flower-arranging course. We also access Enfield College for a basic communication course, Faith House in Edmonton for arts and crafts, swimming and the gym at Albany Leisure Centre, horse riding at Forty Hall, and work experience at Fieldways Stables in Barnet.
We support people to develop their social skills, through Centre based group discussion and role-plays. We support them to develop independent living skills such as preparing meals, cleaning and shopping.
We work with parents/carers and other care professionals, including speech and occupational therapists to support service users to identify the skills they need to develop, so we can help them achieve their aims and be as independent as possible.
At the rear of the Centre is a small garden, which has been developed over the years from a derelict piece of land to a really pleasant place to sit and enjoy the fresh air. As well as flowers, the garden has a small vegetable plot and a fish pond.
