ECL Chelmsford Day Centre

ECL Chelmsford - Highfields is fortunate to be located close to the town centre with access to many shops, cafes, and restaurants. We regularly visit the local library, have swim sessions at the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre, and enjoy the Civic Theatre and Chelmsford Museum.

There are opportunities for lovely walks at Highlands Park and Admirals Park where we get ideas for our own garden and appreciate the more natural spaces that encourage wildlife.

Every morning we do a 'shop and cook' activity, which involves a trip to a supermarket and allows us practical experience of the many different life skills that we learn in the day centre. This includes observing road safety, getting public transport, budgeting and handling money, communication and interaction.

Many of our learning opportunities take place at the day centre. For those who prefer a systematic approach to learning, our ASDAN qualifications provide a structure as well as the chance to gain a formal qualification.

We embed learning into our daily activities so for example, if you follow a digital skills ASDAN you might do an online food shop, or search the internet for recipes for the 'shop and cook' sessions. If you like the sound of the Horticulture ASDAN then you're likely to get involved in growing vegetables and using them in the cookery activities.

We have an active gardening group that has created a lovely garden with raised beds. They have made a compost heap, laid grass seed, and grown all sorts of produce, including carrots, strawberries, beans, pumpkins and tomatoes.

Spa and mindfulness sessions which involve hand massages, foot spas and aromatherapy oils and sensory baking are just some of our more therapeutic activities.

The emphasis of 'Feel good Friday' is on fun activities such as karaoke, music quizzes, arts and crafts, ball games, dancing and keep fit, which promote self-expression, confidence, coordination and keeping fit.