Two new centres designed to support adults with a learning disability have been opened in Bridgend County Borough.
Pyle/Porthcawl Adult Support Centre, based in Pyle Life Centre, and Sarn Adult Support Centre based in Sarn Community Centre offer day services for 67 people.
Developed by Bridgend County Borough Council, the new facilities have been created so that those using them can access services within or close to their own communities.
They follow the success of similar centres in Maesteg and Bridgend.
The new centres offer adults with learning disabilities the chance to socialise, access swimming, gardening, shopping and the cinema locally, as well as use the facilities based in the centres such as the library and exercise classes.
Both centres were officially opened by Bridgend County Borough Council Leader Councillor Mel Nott , who also got a helping hand from service users. Paul Farmer was invited to cut the ceremonial ribbon in the new Pyle/Porthcawl facility, while Jeff Jones was on hand to do the same in Sarn.
Councillor Nott said: “At the end of the day these centres are more than just buildings. Their success is down to those using them and the staff who work in them, which is why I asked the service users to help me with the opening ceremonies. Both Paul and Jeff did a terrific job.
“We’ve created these new centres because as a council we really want to provide services which are local and more accessible. We understand that our service users benefit most when they can enjoy greater engagement within their own community and this is certainly true of our two new centres. The enjoyment of the adults using them and the value they take from the experience is evident.
“I’d like to say a personal thank you to the service users and their families and friends who, along with the staff, make our adult support centres such happy, enjoyable and fulfilling places to visit.”
The new services are part of Bridgend County Borough Council’s drive to improve support to people with a learning disability and will shortly include the new, state-of-the-art Bridgend Resource Centre which will be officially opened later this year.
