The Garwood Foundation

Who We Help, Why We Help & the Difference It Makes

What We Do

Bramley Hill Day Centre:

Physiotherapy

The Centre has its own physiotherapist who supports members with a range of issues including wheelchair assessments and OT referrals. Members are encouraged to take part in passive exercise and the centre has a range of equipment for people with mobility needs including gait trainers and moto med bikes.

Family Support

The Centre has a family support worker who assists members with housing and benefits issues as well as grant-making applications for respite care. Anyone caring for someone at The Garwood Foundation can access their support, signposting is available if necessary.

Speech And Language Therapy

We offer a speaking group which is facilitated by a fully qualified Speech and Language Therapist and work to date includes developing communication aids for members and communication awareness sessions.

The Centre also provides placements for a number of students from UCL Speech and Language Therapy department including those on clinical placements.

Transport

While a number of clients make their own travel arrangements the Foundation does provide transport to and from the Centre. The Centre’s fleet of minibuses currently operates on four routes which cover much of Croydon and extend into Sutton to collect clients and then take them home at the end of the day.

Catering

Mid-morning and afternoon drinks are available for all clients who want them.

Hydrotherapy Pool

The Centre has a fully accessible hydrotherapy pool which is equipped with overhead tracking hoists and situated in a Scandinavian log cabin with an ambient temperature of 32 degrees.

Members use the pool regularly and it provides an excellent base for exercise, providing a relaxing and fun environment for movement. The water’s warm temperature decreases muscle spasm, relieves pain and can increase range of movement. Each member undertakes a hydrotherapy risk assessment to determine the level of support they need.

The hydrotherapy pool is also available for hire and enquiries regarding bookings can be made by contacting the centre’s office.

Training Kitchen

The Centre has a designated training kitchen where members can learn how to cook meals and develop an understanding of nutrition. The centre also runs bake and take sessions for members living in the community.

Fitness Suite

The Centre’s an exercise room contains walking and balance aids, dumbbells and equipment for upper body exercise, including machines specifically designed for the fitness needs of wheelchair users.

IT Suite

The Centre has a small IT suite where members are encouraged to develop IT skills form researching on the Internet through to building CV’s and look for volunteering opportunities.

Greenhouse

The wheelchair accessible greenhouse donated in memory of the Foundation’s former company secretary, Mary Hodgson, provides opportunities for members to take part in gardening sessions and to watch their plants grow.

Patio

The Centre’s secluded rear area provides a quiet venue for the ever-popular annual summer barbeque.

Training Opportunities

The Centre has recently been approved to run nationally recognised qualifications for the Open College Network London. Currently The Centre is offering courses in travel training- using buses and trains and volunteering.

Professional Support

Disabled people attending the Centre are able to make use of the professional services which are available.

Physiotherapy

The Centre’s physiotherapist, David Mitchell, provides a vital service with the majority of clients receiving advice and support in helping to maintain their mobility and strength. The physiotherapist’s role also includes advising on general health issues, supervising the maintenance of clients’ wheelchairs and advice on walking aids and special shoes. The Centre has a designated physiotherapy room as well as the fitness suite.

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 disability.

Family Support Worker

I’m delighted to join the staff at Bramley Hill Day Centre. My background is supporting people with disabilities to develop life skills leading to independent living, and housing management.

I am at the Centre on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week supporting members and their families and carers. 

Please feel free to pop in or phone if you require support with issues such as:

• benefits advice
• financial advice, including concerns with debts
• liaising with local authorities for housing or social services issues
• identifying sources of support
• holidays and social activities

Maryam Bouregaa
Family Support Worker
Bramley Hill Day Centre

020 8686 9866

Work mobile 07496 887751

maryam.bouregaa@garwoodfoundation.org.uk 

Speech Therapy

The Centre has provided Speech and Language therapy. Many of our clients with communication difficulties enjoy, and benefit from, taking part in a quiet, supportive group environment where they can practice and improve any speech strategies that they may have.

Arts And Crafts

The Centre offers arts and crafts on Mondays and Wednesdays and has a dedicated tutor who teaches pottery, drawing and mosaics amongst other activities. The classes provide an excellent opportunity for members to develop their artistic skills.

Gardening

The Centre runs classes in woodwork and gardening throughout the year and projects to date include making bird tables and wheel chair accessible raised beds.

Sewing

The group meets weekly and offers support to all abilities to produce wonderful tapestries and runners. Volunteers are always welcome.

Excursions And Trips

Members have the opportunity to access other community resources including accessible football at Waddon leisure and bowling. The Centre also runs excursions to places such as the Tate Modern and canal trips on specially adapted narrow boats. Trips to local places of interest are arranged throughout the year.

Residential Home, Jean Garwood House

Activities & Services

Jean Garwood House is a residential home for 14 adults with physical disabilities. It also caters for those with additional learning disabilities and sensory impairments. The house is registered with the London borough of Croydon under the Care Standards Act 2000 and thus is subject to regular inspections.

The house is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and there is always at least two staff on shift. All residents have the use of a communal kitchen, lounge, dining room and garden. The kitchen is partly adapted for use by those in wheel chairs.

Meals, laundry and cleaning are provided but residents are encouraged to do as much as they can for themselves.

The fundamental philosophy of Jean Garwood House is to support and empower the residents to maximise their quality of life and to maintain and develop new skills. In order to do this staff, work as key workers to individual residents and each resident undergoes twice yearly reviews to make sure the service provided is meeting their needs.

With the support of the staff, residents are encouraged to participate as much as possible in the running of the home. The residents meet on a monthly basis with the Foundation’s Social Worker to discuss any matters which may have arisen over the last month.

Residents are encouraged to follow their own interests and hobbies with the assistance of staff if necessary. Most of the residents belong to some kind of social group. Activities are also planned within the home with those that are interested.

The first floor of the home has been converted to provide three rooms with en-suite bathrooms, a separate residents’ lounge and communal kitchen. A lift has been installed for easy access. The residents are supported to learn independent living skills.

Staff support small group and individual holidays.

We also provide a holiday for each resident at our adapted caravan at Pagham.

Jean Garwood House also have its own adapted vehicle which will take one passenger in a wheelchair and 3 others plus the driver. There is also access to the Foundation’s minibuses and drivers if needed. Jean Garwood House also has its own adapted vehicle which will take two passengers in a wheelchair and up to five others plus the driver.

Jean Garwood House is located in South Croydon next door to the Bramley Hill Centre, and is close to many shops and services which the residents are able to use.

The home has an “Excellent” C.Q.C Inspection report for care.

We support our residents with all activities of their choosing. Some of the activities are ten-pin bowling, theatre, cinema, swimming, meals out, massage therapy and shopping trips

Referrals should be made initially in writing to the Manager. Admissions are subject to a full needs assessment and compliance with the admissions criteria.
Further details can be obtained
From the;
Manager – Kate O’Flynn

Deputy Manager – Yvonne Newyear

Rutherford School

Rutherford School is a specialist independent mixed day school for pupils between the ages of 3 – 1 9 years. The highly unique Rutherford School Curriculum is designed to provide education in an integrated manner incorporating learning, therapy and health needs for pupils with Profound & Multiple Learning Difficulties which are compounded by a high degree of dependency, and who require very specialised management for physical disabilities, sensory impairment and complex medical needs.

We are Rutherford Life Skills Centre, a specialist provision for students with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties aged between 19-25 years. Our aim is to provide inclusive education to learners whose very special needs are compounded by a high level of dependency. The centre’s holistic approach facilitates learning that is supported and managed by a specialist range of therapies which address physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and complex medical needs.

What We Do

At Rutherford School we work with parents and caregivers to provide excellent learning opportunities for students with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities. Our school has a dedicated team of staff whose aim it is to enhance the lives of our pupils by ensuring that learning experiences are fun, varied and challenging.

Our team of specialised professionals design programmes with practical outcomes to foster independence, learning and achievement for each pupil through meeting individual needs and building on strengths and abilities.

We want our pupils to enjoy being at school, to learn and achieve, and to be happy!

Our Specialities include:

• On Site Nursing Team.
• Rebound Therapy.
• Aquatic Therapy.
• Music Therapy.
• Interactive Learning Area.
• The Saturday Club.
• Visual Impairment Therapy.
• Eye Gaze Technology.
• Virtual Learning

Volunteer

Vacancy: Volunteers For Weekly Or Monthly Sessions

Location: Bramley Hill Day Care (South Croydon)

Bramley Hill Day Centre always welcomes volunteers for weekly or monthly sessions, particularly in the folling:

• Singing/Music sessions
• Drama sessions
• Basic IT tutor
• Activity tutor/co-ordinator

Volunteers must be over 18 years of age. 

If you are interested and require any further information or an application form, please contact Maryam Bouregaa at: maryam.bouregaa@garwoodfoundation.org.uk or Tel.: 020 8686 9866

Vacancy: Voluntary Escorts

Location: Bramley Hill Day Care (South Croydon)

Would you like to gain valuable experience in the care sector?

If so Bramley Hill is looking for volunteers to assist drivers to pick members up each morning and drop them home in the afternoon.

If you are interested please contact the Deputy Manager Khaled Merchergui on 020 8686 4716 for more details.

Volunteering

Volunteers Always Welcome

The Centre’s activities benefit from the greatly appreciated efforts of a number of volunteers.

If you would like to help with one of our friendly activity groups we would love to hear from you. You do not necessarily need to have experience or a particular talent, just enthusiasm and an empathy with people with disabilities. We can assure you that you will find the experience fun and rewarding. In particular we would welcome help with arts & craft, one-to-one cooking, adult education classes or hydrotherapy.

If you are interested please contact the Centre. You will be very welcome to come and meet us and have a look around.