Day Services
Northdale offers a range of services for adults with learning disabilities.
For more than 30 years Northdale has worked hard to create a respectful environment in which vulnerable adults can achieve their full potential, cultivate friendships and develop new skills. We believe that everybody is different and has different interests, and that’s why we try to offer our members the broadest possible range of vocational opportunities.
Garden Nursery
Each year the nursery gets off to a busy start with the production of summer bedding plants. The nursery team then focuses on the production of hardy perennials, garden shrubs and herbs, before switching to the production of wreaths in the run up to the Christmas season. The nursery is a busy, work-focused department that suits individuals of all ability.
Operates five days a week and supports seven clients a day.
Contract Gardening
Northdale’s garden contracting team works in the local community, cutting lawns, trimming hedges, tidying overgrown gardens and putting up fences. Although some of the tasks can be physically demanding, members who can take part enjoy the extra challenge. The activity best suits fully ambulant individuals.
Operates 4 days a week and supports six clients a day.
Café
Members have the opportunity to work in our new café preparing cakes, sandwiches, soups and hot meals for our visitors and clients. Suitable for individuals of all ability, the group offers members the chance to practice a wide range of catering and customer-care skills, as well as learn useful skills to support greater domestic independence. A placement in the café group is ideal for a client who eventually wishes to volunteer or seek employment in the catering trade.
Operates 5 days a week and supports up to six clients a day.
Growing Together Group
The Growing Together Group offers members the opportunity to take part in a broad spectrum of activities including arts and crafts, gardening and cooking. The group is ideally suited to potential clients who would benefit from a gentle, person-centered approach. The group also supports client on the autistic spectrum. Specifically the activity has been organised as a series of individual work stations / spaces and now benefits from a purpose built sensory room.
Operates four days a week and supports six clients a day.
The Studio
Northdale’s arts and crafts department produces a wide range of crafts and gifts, which are sold via Northdale’s popular gift shop. The Studio is always developing new products and ideas, working in a range of media including paint, fabric, ink, recycled materials, card and paper. It also maintains and restocks the charity’s gift shop. This group is suitable for individuals of all ability.
Operates five days a week and supports nine clients a day.
Woodwork
Members have the opportunity to work in our purpose-built workshop creating a range of wooden products such as benches, bird boxes and machine-cut wooden shapes produced on our CNC router. As well as working on smaller items for sale, the woodwork team also undertakes larger projects such as sheds, structures and garden decking. The activity is suitable for all.
Operates five days a week and supports five clients a day.
Dramability
Our drama group, Dramability, works with our members to present an array of diverse performances throughout the year. Members work on their performance skills while developing and staging everything, from short dance presentations to fully costumed shows and performances. Members gain tremendously in self-confidence by taking part in the drama group and quickly grow to love being in the spotlight.
Operates three days a week and supports ten people a day.
Retail
The retailing group allows a small number of clients to work in and help operate our new gift shop and plant retail area. Working alongside our retail instructor, clients will learn how to merchandise and present items for sale, manage stock, operate the till, customer service and the finer points of working in a retail space. A placement in our retail group is ideal of somebody looking to move into volunteering or employment in the local community.
Operates four days a week and supports 2 clients a day