High-tech day centre opens
State-of-the-art £3m revamp replaces outgoing borough sites
PEOPLE with severe learning and physical disabilities will benefit from a high-tech £3million revamp at a South Ruislip day centre.
Queens Walk Resource Centre for people suffering with complex learning, physical and serious disabilities has reopened after a major refurbishment.
Hillingdon Council says the new centre forms part of its initiative to enable greater independence for vulnerable people in the borough.
The state-of-the-art Queens Walk Resource Centre has replaced Phoenix Day Centre, in South Ruislip, Park View Day Centre, in West Drayton, and Woodside Day Centre, in Hayes.
All three were closed by the council as part of a plan to save £4.5million from the council’s disabilities budget by 2014-15.
Tony Zaman, the council’s director of adult services, said: “Promoting a sense of equality for our residents was really important when designing the building.
“We’re moving away from the traditional day centre and offering our residents a modern facility with the latest technology to support their development and help keep them healthy and active.
“Every aspect of the design, down to the level of the windows or the lighting systems, have been chosen to ensure that the centre meets the personal needs of all our residents, no matter how complex their disabilities.”
The Mayor of Hillingdon, councillor Catherine Dann, was joined by council leader Ray Puddifoot and by councillor Philip Corthorne, the uncil’s cabinet ember for social rvices, at the fficial opening f the day centre cently. Mr Corthorne aid: “We are ommitted to r a n s fo r m i n g ervices for
ulnerable residents to give them greater choice and independence, so we are very proud to open such an outstanding centre.
“I would like to thank all of our staff and contractors who have worked so hard to make our vision a reality.”
The council has invested £3m into the centre in Queens Walk, which now has a music room and art room to encourage creativity and self expression and an interactive room with m ove m e n t - c o n t ro l l e d software that can be activated by any part of the body, including the eyes, giving people with severely limited mobility the chance to take part in interactive games and activities.
A teaching kitchen has been adapted so that people of all abilities can learn to cook for themselves, while a hydro pool with sensory lighting will help stimulate and encourage physical movement for those with physical disabilities.
A snoozelum and massage room will aid relaxation and wellbeing through lighting, colour, sounds and scents, as well as holistic therapies and massage, to aid physical development and rehabilitation.
For dancers and fitness fans, a new gymnasium will offer classes to improve coordination and mobility.
And to encourage social interaction and communication between users the centre has a new sensory garden and communal areas.
The council’s adult learning department will be running a range of specially adapted courses at the centre, designed and built by Ashe Construction.