Tel: 0333 013 5438
Mon - Fri: 9:30 - 15:30
Sat - Sun: Closed
Book a free taster session
Contact usECL Clacton - Community Connections is co-located with ACL (Adult Community Learning) offering access to many exciting learning opportunities both at the centre and in the community
About us
At ECL Clacton - Community Connections we excel in supporting you to try new things and in doing so, learn new skills, build relationships, and increase your independence.
We will work with you, your family, and anyone else important in your life to understand your interests, goals, and the support you need. We will build a programme that will help you to achieve your goals, while having fun and making friends along the way.
Your time with us will be spent either learning new skills at the centre or engaging in community activities to put your learning into practise, and to build connections. The amount of time spent on each will depend on your personal aims and preferences.
At ECL Clacton - Community Connections we place a strong emphasis on communicating with you, your family, the people you live with, and your wider support network, to ensure that you are receiving consistent support and maximising your potential in all areas of your life.
Local community
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.
Centre-based activities
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.
Who we support
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.
Pricing
At ECL we work with you to identify your goals and put together a tailored plan unique to you. One of our team will assess the level of support you need, and prices will be based on the recommendations, along with how many sessions you would like to attend.
Find us
Clacton-on-Sea
Essex
CO15 3BN
Facilities
- OMI/Integrex interactive projection system
- Computers, laptops, Ipads
- Accessible bathroom
- Specialist chairs & mobility equipment
- Accessible outdoor space
- Communication aids
