The Rowans - Worthing

The Rowans is a day opportunity service providing person-centred support for people over the age of 18 with a variety of care and support needs.

The Rowans is single-storey and equipped with accessible bathrooms and ceiling track hoists across the service.  The outside area is fully accessible with seating areas and features two pergolas, various flower and planting beds and a polytunnel area for use in nature and gardening sessions.

The Rowans has a variety of areas supporting people to build skills in various ways.

• A people-run café that serves visitors attending meetings and training. This experience supports people to develop skills which they can use in future paid jobs.
• Upcycling sessions where people learn skills to restore unused items for a new lease of life.  This brings a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence and could lead to paid work in the future.  It also raises funds for future projects.
• "Skills Builder" sessions for people looking to progress to paid or voluntary work in the future.  Working with Work Aid to achieve these outcomes.
• Computer suite for our newsletter, computer and multimedia sessions.  These sessions develop people’s computer skills, teach them about online and social media safety.
• Accessible training kitchen to develop cooking skills and explore international cooking.
• Sensory room to meet people’s sensory needs and focus on prescribed stretching and exercise programmes.
• Art and craft room where group projects and individual skills are developed together.
• Reminiscence and brain-training sessions to support people with acquired brain injury or dementia to support their memory and cognition.
• Music, dance, drama and gentle exercise sessions to promote wellbeing and creativity.
• Wellness sessions to support people to stay safe and be healthy.
• Level and accessible grounds to facilitate our gardening and nature sessions.  People grow flowers for the grounds and to sell at our events, vegetables to be used in our cooking sessions, and learn about and support our local wildlife.
• Lilibets Lounge area (named by our people) is designed for quieter and relaxed-paced sessions and activities, with a focus on memory, gentle movement and life-story creation.

People are supported and enabled to be active community members using public transport to engage in local initiatives.

• "Our Town" is a safe spaces network where people identify safe and accessible places in their local area (Worthing for The Rowans) if needed and supports people to feel part of their community. Local businesses and community sites sign up to ‘Our Town’ and display a recognised symbol designed by our people.
• "Eco-Warriors & Beach-Cleaning" that helps to preserve our beautiful town and coastline, and educates people in environmental issues
• Community links and walking sessions to build up knowledge of our local area and increase confidence for people when interacting outside of the service. This also helps to promote and form positive links with organisations and businesses in Worthing, accessing community hubs and resources (eg Dementia Worthing, libraries, in and outdoor gyms, and Buddies café).
• Community based Makaton Choir.
• Travel training to increase independence and improve safety skills and awareness in the community. This includes sessions on the use of mobile phones and "Our Town" safe spaces network when out alone in the community.