About 100 people packed into a newly refurbished day centre, that provides support to people with learning disabilities, to see it formally reopened and renamed on 19 July 2006.
It is set apart from other day centres because of its fully functioning cafe, which some centre users are helping to run. They will work alongside the centre's staff to prepare lunch and snacks for family and visitors as well as other people using the centre.
Cllr John Gilbert, executive member for health and adult social services reopened the centre by announcing that its new name is Daylight Centre. He said: "Daylight Centre is an excellent resource that offers quality support to help people with special needs to live within their own community. The needs of a wide range of people are met at the centre because our staff work closely with all users, and their carers, to develop tailored activity programmes that meet individual interests and needs.
"The impressive new cafe presents a wonderful opportunity to build on the innovative work already being done by staff to help centre users to learn useful new skills that may lead to employment."
Rita Williams, who uses the centre said: "I work in the cafe every day from Tuesday to Friday and it's great. I'm learning how to chop vegetables, bake cakes and how to keep the areas clean and tidy."
All centre users have a named worker to help them arrange a programme of activities that is stimulating and encourages them to lead more enjoyable and fulfilling lives. For example, some of the centre's users are taking part in an employment project at the borough's city farm and others have joined adult education programmes at City and Islington College.
Islington Council installed the fully functioning cafe as part of the final stage of the centre's redevelopment, which it completed this month. Nine hundred and fifty thousand pounds was invested refurbishing Daylight Centre. Under the first stage of the development, the latest electronic equipment to help centre users move around more easily was installed as well as a:
· Sensory room with fibre optic lights, projectors that show images on the walls, and bubble tubes to help stimulate the
senses of users with complex needs.
· Fully equipped therapy room with an electronic hoist.
· Conference room where centre users, staff and managers hold monthly meetings.
· Gardening room for gardening classes;
· Pottery and woodcraft room, and;
· a dance studio for music classes and fitness sessions.
The centre's name was chosen after staff organised a competition challenging its users to come up with a new name. From a short list of three possible choices, Jean Curtis' suggestion, Daylights, received the most votes.
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Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008