Hamelin Trust

Hamelin Trust is an Essex based Charity, founded 40 years ago by two families raising children with learning disabilities. They wanted to provide life enriching support that was not readily available, affordable or easy to access, for families just like them. This mission still drives us today.

We are proud to support families and the community across Essex via our day and community outreach service. We offer development, independence and high quality personalised care for young people and adults with learning disabilities. We also have a respite offer for families in need of a much valued break, safe in the knowledge their loved ones are being cared for by a talented, trusted and dedicated team.

The fact that the vast majority of our families have retained the Hamelin Trust as their care provider gives our team a unique insight into the needs, opportunities and challenges faced by those with learning disabilities as they go through life.

What we know

  • There are 5000 people with severe complex needs in Essex alone – and this number is growing.
  • Addressing social isolation and loneliness for these young people and adults is key. 77% of individuals with a disability aged 18-34 say they feel lonely which tends to have a detrimental impact on both their physical and mental health. (Sense 2017)
  • Social inclusion involves making meaningful connections and participation in fulfilling activities to stimulate learning, development and growth. Only 6% of adults with a learning disability, known to their local authority in England, are in paid work (NHS Digital 2018) compared to 76% of adults in the general population.
  • Relationships and companionship are really important to those with learning disabilities. If they are given sufficient social support, many people with a learning disability are able to engage in safe, healthy and happy personal relationships (Sinclair et al. 2015; Eastgate 2008).

This is why we want to make a difference together as a compassionate community: to make meaningful connections and provide fulfilling activities that allow individuals with learning disabilities to live the happy, healthy lives they want.

Our CQC rating is rated Good

Whilst the services delivered by each of our 3 centres differs, our commitment to high quality personalised care for those with complex learning and physical disabilities is exactly the same.

Read full reports

The support services provided by the Trust have expanded to encompass young people and adults of all ages, working in the community and within 3 centres located across the county of Essex. Our team deliver personalised care, development, life skills and experiences for those with complex needs so that they can live their lives to the fullest – alongside much valued support for families and carers.

Service highlights

The Exchange

The Exchange is our day service designed to encourage and enable individuals with learning disabilities who are living at home.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, fulfilling life. We want young people and adults with learning disabilities to feel empowered to make their own choices. We aim to enable all those who stay with us to achieve their best, encouraging each individual to reach and maintain as much independence as possible.

We have a fully equipped sensory room, one to one teaching rooms, computer, art and woodwork studios. In addition, there are two main areas where individuals can take part in music therapy, receive specialist support such as physiotherapy / mobility exercises or simply enjoy making friends in the safe space afforded by The Exchange.

Our location close to the heart of Billericay also provides the opportunity for individuals to engage in creative and active projects out and about in the local community. Our team enjoy the great outdoors and can often be found leading group and individual trips to get fresh air and exercise.

We cater for additional support needs of individuals with physical and/or sensory impairments and behaviours that may present as challenging. The number of sessions anyone attends is determined by an assessment of need, which is carried out by the Local Authority and Hamelin Trust in partnership.

 

Gowlands

Gowlands is our 9 bedroom short stay centre set in 5 acres of grounds at Sutton Farm Rochford. We offer a home from home for families who are looking for respite care, from an overnight stay to a 2-week break.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, fulfilling life. We want young people and adults with learning disabilities to feel empowered to make their own choices. We aim to enable all those who stay with us to achieve their best,  encouraging each individual to reach and maintain as much independence as possible.

Our care is personalised and each guest is allocated a Keyworker. The Keyworker is responsible for information gathering and updating the individual care and support plan that enables the staff team to provide the best person-centred care and support. The Keyworker will liaise with friends and relatives as well as other professionals involved in the individuals care. All activities are discussed with each individual and they are encouraged to choose what they would like to do during their stay.

Inhouse – arts and crafts, sensory room, film nights, cooking and baking, garden games, parties, Wii and PlayStation gaming and swimming in our very own Hydrotherapy pool.

In the community – we have a variety of wheelchair accessible vehicles which are used daily for cinema trips, ten-pin bowling, meals out, seaside trips, sports, picnics, park trips, petting zoo visits and trampolining.

Sutton Farm Rochford is also home to our Roots and Shoots gardening project, which offers training and practical experience to develop confidence, creativity and life skills for those with learning disabilities. Not to mention a fantastic way to bring people together – giving the individuals we work with the chance to make friends and have fun with each other, and our volunteer gardeners who live and work in our local community.

Hydrotherapy pool

Swimming is a fantastic way to keep active, maintain physical mobility and have fun!

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, fulfilling life. We want young people and adults with learning disabilities to feel empowered to make their own choices. We aim to enable all those who work with us to achieve their best,  encouraging each individual to reach and maintain as much independence as possible.

So, we are proud to have a purpose built Hydrotherapy pool at our Sutton Farm site at Rochford, which is open to our young people and adults with learning disabilities, their families and the general public.

Set to a slightly higher temperature than traditional swimming pools, our Hydrotherapy pool is a fantastic way to strengthen mental and physical wellbeing in a safe, relaxing environment.

The pool is wheelchair accessible with a ceiling hoist which can support individuals from the changing rooms directly into the water. We have specially equipped changing facilities with large showers, changing beds and toilets.

We are open to the general public on the following days & sessions. Please note due to limited space in the pool you need to prebook.

Tuesdays: 13:00, 14:15, 15:30 and 16:45.

Thursdays and Saturdays: 9:15, 10:30, 11:45, 13:00, 14:15 and 15:30.

Please contact us for information and prices if you wish to attend with a physiotherapist.

Book NowVirtual Tour

The Bungalow

The Bungalow is a beautiful, warm, welcoming space set in a quiet residential community setting of Wickford. Our 5 bed purpose built forever home is for young people and adults with severe learning and physical disabilities.

The Bungalow staff team provide 24-hour a day support to residents which we ensure is dignified, compassionate and bespoke care that encourages residents to be as independent as possible and live their lives to the fullest.

The Bungalow prides itself on being welcoming and homely. The home is well equipped to meet the needs of our residents with ceiling hoists, profiling beds, a jacuzzi bath and is wheelchair accessible throughout. Residents enjoy spending time in our fully paved, secluded south-facing garden, which is perfect for having BBQs, using the lazy spa or just relaxing in, listening to music. Residents are able to participate in a variety of in-house activities reading, playing and swimming at our hydrotherapy pool nearby.

We actively encourage close partnerships with our families who are welcome to visit at any time. We also facilitate shared experiences for our residents and their families with home visits at Christmas, canal boat trips and holidays, supported by our team.

We have great support from our the local community and give our residents as much opportunity as possible to experience new activities and places of interest, all of which enables them to live their lives to the fullest.

 

 

Community Support

The Community Support service is designed to meet the needs of young people and adults with learning disabilities by providing flexible services from, and within, people’s own homes.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, fulfilling life. We want young people and adults with learning disabilities feel empowered to make their own choices. We aim to enable all those who work with us to achieve their best,  encouraging each individual to reach and maintain as much independence as possible.

Forging strong relationships with the local community is a key aspect of the service. We encourage people to develop independence skills, access community facilities of their choice and to develop and maintain relationships, maximising the opportunities young people and adults with learning disabilities have to engage in community life.

The Community Support service provides whatever level of support is required to enable individuals with learning disabilities to live/remain in their own homes and live their chosen lifestyle.

Activities include:

Bowling, shopping and cooking, cinema, swimming, meals out, socialising with others, art and crafts, cycling, seaside visits, community walks, crazy golf and gardening at our allotment.

The Exchange is our day service designed to encourage and enable individuals with learning disabilities who are living at home.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, fulfilling life. We want young people and adults with learning disabilities to feel empowered to make their own choices. We aim to enable all those who stay with us to achieve their best, encouraging each individual to reach and maintain as much independence as possible.

We have a fully equipped sensory room, one to one teaching rooms, computer, art and woodwork studios. In addition, there are two main areas where individuals can take part in music therapy, receive specialist support such as physiotherapy / mobility exercises or simply enjoy making friends in the safe space afforded by The Exchange.

Our location close to the heart of Billericay also provides the opportunity for individuals to engage in creative and active projects out and about in the local community. Our team enjoy the great outdoors and can often be found leading group and individual trips to get fresh air and exercise.

We cater for additional support needs of individuals with physical and/or sensory impairments and behaviours that may present as challenging. The number of sessions anyone attends is determined by an assessment of need, which is carried out by the Local Authority and Hamelin Trust in partnership.

 

Gowlands is our 9 bedroom short stay centre set in 5 acres of grounds at Sutton Farm Rochford. We offer a home from home for families who are looking for respite care, from an overnight stay to a 2-week break.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, fulfilling life. We want young people and adults with learning disabilities to feel empowered to make their own choices. We aim to enable all those who stay with us to achieve their best,  encouraging each individual to reach and maintain as much independence as possible.

Our care is personalised and each guest is allocated a Keyworker. The Keyworker is responsible for information gathering and updating the individual care and support plan that enables the staff team to provide the best person-centred care and support. The Keyworker will liaise with friends and relatives as well as other professionals involved in the individuals care. All activities are discussed with each individual and they are encouraged to choose what they would like to do during their stay.

Inhouse – arts and crafts, sensory room, film nights, cooking and baking, garden games, parties, Wii and PlayStation gaming and swimming in our very own Hydrotherapy pool.

In the community – we have a variety of wheelchair accessible vehicles which are used daily for cinema trips, ten-pin bowling, meals out, seaside trips, sports, picnics, park trips, petting zoo visits and trampolining.

Sutton Farm Rochford is also home to our Roots and Shoots gardening project, which offers training and practical experience to develop confidence, creativity and life skills for those with learning disabilities. Not to mention a fantastic way to bring people together – giving the individuals we work with the chance to make friends and have fun with each other, and our volunteer gardeners who live and work in our local community.

Swimming is a fantastic way to keep active, maintain physical mobility and have fun!

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, fulfilling life. We want young people and adults with learning disabilities to feel empowered to make their own choices. We aim to enable all those who work with us to achieve their best,  encouraging each individual to reach and maintain as much independence as possible.

So, we are proud to have a purpose built Hydrotherapy pool at our Sutton Farm site at Rochford, which is open to our young people and adults with learning disabilities, their families and the general public.

Set to a slightly higher temperature than traditional swimming pools, our Hydrotherapy pool is a fantastic way to strengthen mental and physical wellbeing in a safe, relaxing environment.

The pool is wheelchair accessible with a ceiling hoist which can support individuals from the changing rooms directly into the water. We have specially equipped changing facilities with large showers, changing beds and toilets.

We are open to the general public on the following days & sessions. Please note due to limited space in the pool you need to prebook.

Tuesdays: 13:00, 14:15, 15:30 and 16:45.

Thursdays and Saturdays: 9:15, 10:30, 11:45, 13:00, 14:15 and 15:30.

Please contact us for information and prices if you wish to attend with a physiotherapist.

Book NowVirtual Tour

The Bungalow is a beautiful, warm, welcoming space set in a quiet residential community setting of Wickford. Our 5 bed purpose built forever home is for young people and adults with severe learning and physical disabilities.

The Bungalow staff team provide 24-hour a day support to residents which we ensure is dignified, compassionate and bespoke care that encourages residents to be as independent as possible and live their lives to the fullest.

The Bungalow prides itself on being welcoming and homely. The home is well equipped to meet the needs of our residents with ceiling hoists, profiling beds, a jacuzzi bath and is wheelchair accessible throughout. Residents enjoy spending time in our fully paved, secluded south-facing garden, which is perfect for having BBQs, using the lazy spa or just relaxing in, listening to music. Residents are able to participate in a variety of in-house activities reading, playing and swimming at our hydrotherapy pool nearby.

We actively encourage close partnerships with our families who are welcome to visit at any time. We also facilitate shared experiences for our residents and their families with home visits at Christmas, canal boat trips and holidays, supported by our team.

We have great support from our the local community and give our residents as much opportunity as possible to experience new activities and places of interest, all of which enables them to live their lives to the fullest.

 

 

The Community Support service is designed to meet the needs of young people and adults with learning disabilities by providing flexible services from, and within, people’s own homes.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy, active, fulfilling life. We want young people and adults with learning disabilities feel empowered to make their own choices. We aim to enable all those who work with us to achieve their best,  encouraging each individual to reach and maintain as much independence as possible.

Forging strong relationships with the local community is a key aspect of the service. We encourage people to develop independence skills, access community facilities of their choice and to develop and maintain relationships, maximising the opportunities young people and adults with learning disabilities have to engage in community life.

The Community Support service provides whatever level of support is required to enable individuals with learning disabilities to live/remain in their own homes and live their chosen lifestyle.

Activities include:

Bowling, shopping and cooking, cinema, swimming, meals out, socialising with others, art and crafts, cycling, seaside visits, community walks, crazy golf and gardening at our allotment.

We are hugely fortunate to have a team of committed, loyal and dedicated care and support staff.  This means that our team are able to build lasting relationships with our families – placing people at the heart of everything we do.

The bulk of our team work directly with individuals with learning disabilities to deliver care, development and experiences and are specialists in health and social care.  We also have a small support team dedicated to recruitment, training, fundraising and managing the efficient use of our resources.

We are always looking for caring and talented individuals to join our growing and diverse team. We have current vacancies so if you are interested to explore opportunities as a support worker, fundraiser, volunteer or trustee please do drop us a line, we would love to hear from you.

Current Vacancies

Community Service Support Worker – Part Time

View role

Relief Support Workers

View role

Relief Hydrotherapy Pool Assistant

View role

Gowlands Waking Night Support Worker

View role

Gowlands Support Worker- Full Time

View role

Gowlands Support Worker - Weekends

View role

Community Service Support Worker – Part Time

View role

Relief Support Workers

View role

Relief Hydrotherapy Pool Assistant

View role

Gowlands Waking Night Support Worker

View role

Gowlands Support Worker- Full Time

View role

Gowlands Support Worker - Weekends

View role

Over 40 years supporting the community across the county of Essex means we have developed a shared history with our network of families, friends and supporters.

Here are just a few of the amazing people we are lucky to count on.

From those who have donated funds to help our beneficiaries and services grow, to those who volunteer for our gardening project and gift their time to provide advice and support for our families and our team. Giving which is both much appreciated and incredibly rewarding.

If any of these stories inspire you – and you would like to give some of your time, expertise or funds to support our beneficiaries to life healthy, happy and fulfilling lives in the future – we would love to hear from you.

You can make a donation via our JustGiving page or by getting in touch with our team using the contact form below.

Our newly appointed Chief Executive Ru Watkins joined us from the Hospice sector with big ambitions for the future of the Trust and the community we serve.

If you would like to get in touch to discuss how we can grow and develop our community in partnership, please drop Ru a line using the contact form below.

Join our community

Latest from our Facebook

Subscribe to our newsletter