ECL Clacton - Community Connections

Our location in Clacton means we are fortunate to have many choices of community activities, with the town centre offering a range of shops and cafes, and the seafront providing us with some lovely walks, as well as bowling and mini golf.

Our local CSVT (Community Services Voluntary Transport) centre run a number of community clubs that allow us to try a new hobby, learn skills and make friends including: the Kennedy Way Garden Centre, the Art Dabbers Cafe, the Fun and Friendship Cafe, and the Community Walking Group.

In selecting our community activities we always bear in mind a customer's goals and interests. Community activities will be linked to outcomes that are relevant to you, for example: learning to use public transport, road safety awareness, money management skills, increasing fitness, and improving social interaction with each other, and with people in the wider community.

Here at the ECL Clacton - Community Connections site you can choose from many activities to help improve your knowledge, gain new skills, enhance your social interaction, increase your fitness, and build your confidence.

Our sessions include:

• Cooking
• Cultural awareness
• IT sessions
• English
• Maths
• Makaton sign language
• Life skills
• Pottery, arts and crafts
• Singing/dancing/drama

If you enjoy a more structured approach to learning; and would like recognition of your achievements, you can gain a qualification with ACL or follow one of our ASDAN courses.

We offer expert support to people with a range of needs from mild and moderate learning disabilities to profound and multiple learning disabilities, and related health conditions. We are also experienced at supporting those with autism, and communication difficulties.

Our staff team receive specialist training to support customers including:

• Epilepsy and administering buccal
• Enteral feeding
• Diabetes
• Dysphagia
• Moving and handling
• Emergency first aid at work
• Mental health awareness
• Learning disability awareness

We can support customers with a variety of communication preferences including those who use Makaton sign language and picture communications aids. Where appropriate we will follow an approved SALT (speech and language therapy) plan, and can refer to our in-house SALT clinical experts if additional advice is required.

Communication training includes:

• Communication awareness
• Makaton
• Talking mats
• Objects of reference
• Communication passports

At ECL Clacton – Community Connections we can provide higher levels of support where needed (1:1 or greater) in line with the care and support plan.

We will review your progress and needs on a regular basis and are able to refer to our in-house clinicians, inclusive employment, and innovation teams to ensure you continue to progress with us.