Activities at the Centre
The Bramley Hill Centre provides a friendly environment with work and occupational health facilities for people with cerebral palsy and allied conditions.
The aim of the centre is to encourage confidence, develop skills and to motivate the individual to use their abilities to the full. The means of achieving these aims are regular reviews and assessments of each person's needs and objectives, then providing the necessary stimulus of activities and suitable therapy where needed.
Woodwork Group
The centre members are encouraged to take an active part in the running of the centre and have their own committee of which one member is part of the management team.
The centre now boasts a fantastic newly-built hydrotherapy pool (see also News and Current projects). Because of the warm temperature of the water, hydrotherapy decreases muscle spasm, relieves pain and can increase range of movement. Water is an excellent base for exercise, providing an anti-stress environment for movement and is of huge benefit to people who find weight-bearing difficult or painful.
The centre has three workshops offering a variety of work skills from light engineering, including packing and assembling, to light clerical work. The income from the work performed is distributed to the members in the form of an earnings disregard. Currently the members are discussing new ideas of how this income should be used.
Other facilities include two classrooms for adult education and a well equipped physiotherapy department. Independent living skills are taught on an individual basis in the training kitchen and a social worker is available to help all the centre members with any problems they may have. Five computer systems are provided for the members use.
Currently, twenty five members are attending our twice-weekly craft and sewing groups, producing some beautiful and useful items. Our art group, in conjunction with The Old Coulsdon Art Society, has created some magnificent paintings which have been on show at the Fairfield Halls.
Up to 60 adults from eighteen years of age onwards, with a very wide range of disabilities, attend the Centre, coming mainly from the Croydon area but also from surrounding boroughs. Centre members are funded to attend by local authority sponsorship
Art Group
Physiotherapy is a vital service provided at the Centre, with most Centre members receiving some form of therapy needed to maintain their mobility and strength. By having regular physiotherapy, regression can be stopped and in many cases a substantial improvement can be made to the individual. Each client is assessed at the Centre and their therapy is gauged to their disabilities which can include spasticity in muscles, uncoordinated movement (ataxic and atheroid), pain and stiffness in joints.
With the majority of clients using wheelchairs, walking aids and/or special shoes, it is important that regular assessment is maintained to enable maximum benefit and safety. 'Movement to Music' classes are popular, helping with co-ordination and balance in an informal and friendly atmosphere.
Walking Aids
A recent acquisition has been a Motomed exercise machine which can be used by all clients however severe their disability. The centre also has two Gait Trainers and clients are encouraged to walk with these and be as mobile as possible.
Speech therapy is not currently provided but other forms of communication methods are used such as Makaton sign language. Recently communication passports have been produced for some of the clients to enable better communication in the community.
Living Skills - there are two key aspects of Living Skills, the first is the development of practical household skills in the Training Kitchen, and the second is the support provided to those already living independently. Centre members moving into the community are given advice and help with furnishing and organising their new homes. The Centre has a training kitchen where courses are run on a one-to-one basis.
Music, drama and yoga sessions take place weekly and a group is taken most Mondays (weather permitting) for cycling at the Croydon Arena. Recently some members have shown interest in growing fruit and vegetables.
Music Group
For several years trips on the River Wey near Guildford have proved very popular with our clients. This summer 6 trips are so far planned and nearly everyone is looking forward to going. The boat is a specially converted canal boat with an electric hoist so everyone despite their disability can enjoy the adventure.
The Canal Boat at the River Wey