Surrey Choices opens new Community Hub in Redhill
Fittings and Fixtures for Longmead
The new building in the centre of Redhill is a purpose built community hub for Surrey Choices. It is a showcase for the transformation agenda that Surrey Choices embarked on in the Autumn of 2019. The goal is to provide new opportunities for people with a range of disabilities and support needs, so they can live healthy and independent lives in their local communities.
Not so long ago the building was a mere shell, but as the day for the opening ceremony approaches, work has been underway to prepare it for daily use.
Communications
No 21st century building would be complete without modern communications capabilities, so among the first tradespeople on site were the IT specialists. The network cabling went into the building in early June.
Electrics
Our electrical contractors were kind enough to set aside a Saturday to come in and wire the lights, security alarm and fully fitted accessible training kitchen.
Sensory Room
You have heard in previous blog posts how important the sensory room will be for the people we support who have profound and multiple learning disabilities. It is therefore extremely important that this room has been designed and installed with great care and attention.
The water bed has been diligently screwed together, a shelf for the projection equipment mounted on the wall, and let us not forget the glitter ball! However, it is the technology that will bring the magic to this room. Four pink bubble tubes use the latest LED technology to stimulate the senses and the multi-coloured sensory ladder lights will be used to encourage vocal communication. The system is sound sensitive and comes to life when noises are made. We cannot wait to see this room being used.
New Furniture
A lot of equipment will be transferred from Surrey Choices’ previous centre at Noke Drive, but the team have also invested in new tables and chairs in the Surrey Choices colour scheme.
Wall Art
The last touch to the Hub is the installation of bespoke wall art that reflects the culture and values of Surrey Choices. “We wanted to make the hub feel really special,” explained Diego Acosta, Service Coordinator for the Longmead Hub. As well as the Surrey Choices logo and our core values, the team has chosen colourful banners showing the four areas that we encourage people to develop:
- Friends, Relationships and Community;
- Independent Living Skills and Life Skills;
- Employment, Volunteering and Vocational Learning;
- Health and Wellbeing.
Finally, a group of the people we support discussed words that are important to their goals and aspirations. We have compiled these words into three vinyl word clouds, which have also been fixed to the walls. “They will be a great reminder of what is important to the people we support,” says Diego proudly.
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