About us
We originally took over Winton Gateway Club in January 2010 running just 2 hours per fortnight. We moved to Embassy Centre from the old club that used to run at Linwood School.
We have continued to grow and expand the support we offer.
We became a registered charity and limited company in 2012 and renamed ourselves as Bournemouth Gateway Club. We began to run one day per week when the BCP day centres started closing and our most vulnerable members lost their day activities.
We opened 2 days per week after having been selected as a pilot online Gateway Award Centre for Mencap in 2014.
We supported our members online, by phone and then outdoors during and immediately after lockdown. After lockdown and the impact of the cost of living crisis we opened for free for some time and started our Wednesday sessions so we could support more members.
As we move into 2024 we offer a day opportunity 3 days per week, Thursday night young people's club, an alternate Saturday evening social club and regular off site social events.
Our Leadership
We have been a registered charity since June 2012, charity number 1147598. We are a limited company number 793887 registered in February 2012. We publish our annual trustee report and account each year and these are available via the Chairty Commision website We are run by our board of charity trustees, some of whom have been with us from the beginning! All the trustees support us on a voluntary basis. The provision is overseen by our chair and service manager Anna Reeves.
We are affiliated to but not part of Mencap. This means we can access occasional support and advice, they do our DBS checks, they help us to access grants and projects etc but we do not receive any day to day financial or organisational backing.
We have 5 paid staff (part time) and many volunteers who share their time and talents with us. Thank you to all our staff and volunteers - you are an amazing bunch and we couldn't do any of it without you!
Our Philosophy
Everything we do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.
Our vision is a world where people with a learning disability are valued equally, listened to and included.
Quality and Safety
Amongst others we have policies in place for adult safeguarding, equality, equal opportunities and diversity, health and safety etc. Copies of these policies are available at Embassy Centre or on request.
We also subscribe to People First Forum's Bill Of Rights Charter
Office/correspondence address: 60 Leybourne Ave, Bournemouth BH10 6HF
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