Centre to open in Basingstoke to help people with learning difficulties (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Centre to open in Basingstoke to help people with learning difficulties

9:20am Friday 8th March 2013 in Local By Helen Morton

A NEW facility set up to help people with learning disabilities will be officially opened in Basingstoke today.

Basingstoke Community Link, in Basingstoke Discovery Centre, Festival Place, has facilities including a kitchen area, sensory and presentation area and a meeting room.

It will allow families to meet support staff from Basingstoke Day Services, who will help people with transport and give advice about activities.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, executive member for adult social care for Hampshire County Council, who will open the facility, said: “We listened to what people with learning disabilities told us – that they want to live ordinary lives, have jobs and live in their own homes. This will mean continuing to provide services, but in new and different ways.

“The new Community Link is in a very central location which will help people with learning disabilities and their families feel a part of the local community and at the heart of what’s happening in Basingstoke.

“We are modernising our learning disability services so that people have a greater choice and the flexibility to select from a range of services that meet their individual needs. Our aim is to lead the way by using our existing resources as effectively as possible.”