A special celebration event was held to mark Beeching Park historic Golden Jubilee of providing day services for people with learning disabilities in Conservative-led East Sussex.
Over the last half century Beeching Park, the home of Hastings and Rother Day Service, has seen two monarchs, 12 Prime Ministers and delivered over 12,000 days of service.
Clients, their families and carers joined staff to celebrate the last five decades with games, a DJ and afternoon tea. Clients were also given special celebratory mugs to mark the occasion.
The site has the latest facilities and equipment for clients’ use which includes training kitchens, activity rooms, a computer suite, Sensory Guru and a large garden for relaxation, gardening, and sports.
The service opened on the Bexhill industrial estate in 1973 as a sheltered workshop where adults took on therapeutic work provided by local business. It became a day service, providing activities and support to adults with learning disabilities, in the late 1990s.
Conservative Cllr Carl Maynard, lead member for adult social care and health at East Sussex County Council, said: “I am delighted Beeching Park is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and I would like to congratulate the staff, clients and carers, both past and present, for the wonderful opportunities and vital support this service has provided over the years.
“Beeching Park is a very special place and its longevity can be put down to the affection and value clients, carers and staff all place on this service which is born out of a collective desire to do the very best for the people who use it.”
Lisa Ennis is a Shared Lives provider and has been involved with Beeching Park since 1987. She said: “The service is just amazing, and I can say for certain that I wouldn’t have been a carer for as I long as I have without the support provided by the service. The staff are wonderful and they are so dedicated.”
The service offers a wide range of in-house sessions including health and wellbeing, baking, art and creativity, multimedia, gardening, photography, nature and wildlife and music. Twilight sessions with a more social focus are also available and include supper club, film club and games and disco nights.
Alison, one of the service’s longest standing clients, has been attending since 1979. She comes three days a week and particularly enjoys the textiles sessions: “Textiles is lovely and I enjoy tie dying. The staff are lovely.”
Cllr Ian Hollidge, the Conservative county councillor for Bexhill South, who also attended the event said: “The work here is absolutely vital and is much appreciated by everyone who uses the service.”
Beeching Park operates four days a week, (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri). As well as in-house sessions, the service also supports individuals in the community with visits to Bexhill Gym, Hastings and Bexhill libraries and the Horntye and Summerfields Leisure Centres.
