Journey Enterprises Ltd

Celebrating our 40th year in 2023, we are an award-winning local charity providing social care Day Services for adults with learning disabilities. 

Chosen by the House of Lords in 2021 as one of fifteen organisations in the UK providing best practice, the Charity has four Day Centres in the region which support conditions such as Down's Syndrome, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi, Smith Magenis, Fragile X and Sotos Syndromes. We also support adults with autism. Over two thirds of our Clients have co-morbid conditions including mental health disability, physical or sensory disability.

Gateshead Clients currently attend our Day Centre (Hub) in Kenton, Newcastle NE3 3RY. Our other Hubs are in Blyth and Acomb (Northumberland) and Coundon (County Durham).

Clients join us to develop work and life skills, and to manage their health and wellbeing.  We run a very broad Day Service activities programme shaped around Clients' interests and abilities.  These are delivered in small groups working with specialist Learning Disability Support Workers, our Volunteering Lead and Work Coaches both on site and in the community.  We also commission specialist tutors for dance, drama and sports.

In addition to the Day Service we have a range of enterprises which provide services for the local community whilst providing an opportunity for Clients to practise work skills. These include community cafes, meals delivery services for older frail adults, gardening and woodwork services, a Pay What You Can Afford shop, arts & crafts sales and hosted friendship groups and lunches for the local community.

The Charity runs a number of major grant-aided programmes giving Clients more opportunities to develop their skills. These include recent funding from the Santander Foundation (£135K) for a digital and financial inclusion programme called I Can be Canny, £166K from the Henry Smith Charity and £192K from TNL Community Fund for our employability programme, Working Journeys.

Activities: arts & crafts, catering and sugar craft, dance, drama and puppetry, digital skills, film and photography, music, sports & exercise, outdoor and environmental studies

Life Skills training: independent living, communication, diet & nutrition, employability, managing health, budgeting and money skills, relationships, staying safe, travel training, using local services & taking part in local communities

Social Enterprise and Employability: an opportunity to train for work and provide a vital service for the local community through our enterprises, to volunteer in placements in the community and to train for and secure paid employment or self-employment.

Journey welcomes applications throughout the year for volunteering and Trusteeship. We are currently recruiting Volunteer Mentors for Working Journeys, Activities Volunteers and Trustees.