Community Support

Community Choices supports disabled and autistic people to live healthy and independent lives in their local communities.

What support does Community Choices offer?

Together with the individual, their family and wider support network, Surrey Choices creates a Person-Centred Plan which describes how they will support the person to achieve their goals. The plan will look at how they can be an active member of their community and be more connected with local people and places. Support at Surrey Choices focuses on:

  • Friends, relationships, and community
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Employment, volunteering, and vocational learning
  • Independent living and life skills

Opportunity To Develop Your Skills

The aim of these is to give people the opportunity to develop the skills they need to live as independently as possible, while also providing opportunities for socialisation and personal growth.

An example of a typical week with Surrey Choices may include:

  • Communication and social skills such as enabling people to speak up and make their own decisions, and learning how to use signs and Makaton
  • Social outings in local communities including travel training, and visits to the pub, restaurant and garden centre
  • Money management skills, such as learning how to manage finances and budgeting
  • Exercise and sports such as going to the gym, local walks and accessible Boccia, rebound therapy and cycling
  • Home management skills such as shopping and learning to cook
  • Creative arts to support personal expression, creativity and socialisation such as art classes and pottery, drama and theatre, dance and movement
  • Gardening, including accessible gardens and adaptive tools.
  • Photography classes to learn about different aspects of photography such as lighting, composition and camera settings
  • Sensory experiences which include different textures, lights, sounds and other sensory inputs including sensory walks, sensory equipment and individual strategies to manage sensory issues

Inclusive Support

Community Choices prioritises inclusive support in the community across Surrey.

Specialist support may also be provided in Surrey Choices Community Hubs in the following locations:

North Surrey:
Spelthorne and Runnymede
Elmbridge

West Surrey:
Guildford and Waverley
Surrey Heath and Woking

East Surrey:
Redhill, Reigate and Tandridge
Banstead and Epsom

You can find more information about how to get to, and what goes on at all of our Community Hubs in Surrey here.

Transport

Surrey Choices encourages people to travel independently or with support and can support individuals to learn to travel. Alternatively, specialist transport can be arranged for those who are eligible.

Testimonials

Chantelle

Chantelle’s journey began when she courageously shared her personal experiences with Healthwatch, shedding light on the challenges she faced while accessing medical services. Healthwatch are an independent statutory body who improve the standards of care for health and social care services.

Healthwatch, acting as her voice, engaged with doctors and health authorities, advocating for the necessary adjustments and improvements to medical services. She now receives the vital medical tests she desperately needed, thanks to the intervention of Healthwatch.

Through her courage and willingness to share her story, Chantelle is driving significant improvements, not only for herself but for countless individuals facing similar challenges.

 

Chantelle – Celebrating Success Award Winner

Customer Quotes

 

“I have friends, I have accessible places to go, I am active in my community, I have learnt new skills, and I am now confident to do these activities in my free time thanks to Community Choices

 

“I really enjoy going out into the community and learning new skills and exercising at the local leisure centre and going out on the kayak in the summer”

 

“I like going to cafes in the area and shopping. We are meeting new people and other groups in the community which has been great. I have made some new friends”

Find out how we can support you