FOLLOWING the recent move of location from Newport Industrial Estate into the Orchard Centre, Launceston Day Centre continues to see more community link improvements.

Launceston Day Centre manager, Lorna Searle, said: “Now the service is located in town it is providing the opportunity to engage with the local community and benefit from good transport links. As a service we are seeking to meet the individuals’ identified outcomes and support service users to live the life they choose in a way that encourages progression and achievements.”

Since moving to their new venue, the service users of the day centre have been taking time to get more familiar with their immediate surroundings. Projects within the centre have recently included creating a local business guide, listing shops within the centre, showing images of the exterior, listing products sold and access options.

This new day centre directory allows service users to gain confidence and independence when shopping within Launceston, whilst supporting the town’s local businesses. Additional to this, service users have begun a project looking at the history of Launceston, using walking trips, previously not an option, to local historic sites for research.

Since moving to the Orchard, Launceston Day Centre have also been able to look at new activities with other local groups, both on site, such as a new dance group working with McQueens Theatre School, and also off site, such as activity at the leisure centre, of which service users can now access on foot.

Since the move into the town, the mini bus, previously hired to the day centre through Cornwall Council has been relocated to another day centre within the county. However, with the new location, a lot of external activities that service users attend can be accessed via pedestrian links, further improving health and wellbeing.

Staff member, Kay Cheeseworth, said: “The service users are really enjoying the new topic work and are gaining life skills, which will support them in the community.”

Recently, Cornwall Councillor for Launceston central, Gemma Massey, again visited the day centre to have an update for the service users and see some of the recent activities that have taken place. Cllr Massey said: “It is wonderful to see the day centre enjoying their new setting and embracing the town centre. This new location offers much better links for all to really get out and about and make the most of what our community has to offer.

“I can see how hard the staff are working to help build the confidence and independence of the service users with a variety of activities whilst working together with local businesses and other groups at the same time.”