News
Our Skills Centre is one of the things that sets The Meath apart from other care homes. Having a dedicated place and equally dedicated team of staff and volunteers to deliver a range of skills-based activity sessions, is, in terms of statutory funding and statutory requirements, an ‘add on’. However, for the people we support, whether on-site as residents, or Supported Living clients, Skills Centre sessions form an integral part of their life and wellbeing.
Thanks to generous support through voluntary income, we are proud to offer residents and supported living clients, weekly activity sessions which span a broad range of educational, fitness, wellbeing, creative and expressive subjects. In addition, we welcome day clients to the Skills Centre on a paid for basis; by doing so we can broaden social opportunities for both the people we support as residents and supported living clients, as well as for day clients who hail from the local area.
While our schedule of regular activities Monday- Friday makes for a varied programme, a visit to our Skills Centre on any day will guarantee fun, laughter, socialisation, learning and crucially, a sense of achievement for the people we support. Catherine Agca, Skills Centre Manager explains how she and her team deliver, measure and celebrate this.
“Whether the session is art or woodwork, cooking or yoga, each Skills Centre Activity Leader, with support from our volunteers, takes pride in delivering the session in an inclusive and engaging way. The team work with every person they support to identify and work towards personal learning goals.
I am privileged to see this in action every day and support this important work. We are proud to recognise ability; examples of personal progress at the Skills Centre span a very broad range. We recognise that one person’s first ever time in the water at a swimming session is just as significant for them, as it could be for another person’s achievement of 20 lengths in the pool. It is wonderful to celebrate achievements throughout the year with activities such as performances and art exhibitions. We also set aside time for an annual Awards Day Ceremony which recognises the achievements of every individual we support. “
Achieving Goals and Celebrating Success
With support to achieve and celebrate a wide range of personal goals, the people we support at the Skills Centre are enabled to try a new skill, hone their technique and be proud of their achievements. While the process of every session represents achievement, many of the people we support especially enjoy the showcasing of the final result of their hard work. Some of the people we support have shared why this is important to them.
“I like singing with The Meath Choir at the Carol Service at St Clement Danes Church, especially as my family come to see me. I enjoy Choir practice and performing on stage, we performed at The Meath Opera event.”
Maria
“This year was my first Meath Awards Day, I was a bit nervous at first but I enjoyed getting my certificate and also supporting my friends. It felt good to clap each other for what we had done well in.”
Lauren
“I enjoy woodwork, textiles and horticulture at the Skills Centre. I like chatting and having a cup of tea together and I feel really proud when my work goes up on the wall. My sewing work is on display on the Disney themed wall and it looks really good. Sometimes our work goes in exhibitions at Guildford or Cranleigh and people can enjoy it.”
Sarah
In spring 2025 the people we support enjoyed the addition of Meath Football Practice to the repertoire of fitness and sports activities on offer. The group have gained confidence on the pitch, but being part of a team has also developed a wonderful sense of camaraderie and peer support.
New Sessions This Autumn
This Autumn, the Skills Centre are pleased to have launched some new expressive sessions in both Dance and Drama. Thanks to support from a kind donor, we are pleased to be working with Guildford Shakespeare Company who are delivering a programme of Drama Workshops with support from Skills Centre Activity Leader Linda and Volunteer Eve. Session one saw comfort zones expand by the minute, with hesitant group members who initially said they ‘might just watch’ soon join in and participate with the inclusive story telling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Group member Lauren commented
“Drama is the best, even though I was a bit nervous at first”
Meanwhile a Supporter Worker reported
“Despite being hesitant, David came back from his Drama session absolutely glowing.”
Group member Nathan enjoyed the session and said
I pretended to be a bad guy, it was fun. Laura was Ariel and we were on an Island.
Dance sessions are also proving a popular addition to the weekly timetable, these sociable sessions combine socialisation with exercise and the learning of routines. Activity Leader Verity describes the sessions as
“Led by the people we support as far as possible. We started with disco and pop song routines and will be discussing other types of dance to explore. Some of the group members love ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and we plan to draw from it as a source of inspiration. Dance sessions are a great way to keep fit, mentally active and have fun together. The group and I always feel invigorated by the sessions!”
A Meath parent told us her daughter phoned her after attending her first Dance session and said
“Mum, it was brilliant!”
Skills Centre sessions all include group members who together have a broad range of interests, experiences, communications styles and abilities. Activity Leaders are able to cater for individual needs and sessions are supported by Volunteers, but often the people we support support each other. Whether cooking or singing, playing football or creating a work of art; the people we support are busy honing interpersonal and communication skills, encouraging each other and crucially, recognising ability.
