Activity centre for adults with learning difficulties or disabilities reopens this week

Previously paid for by Mencap, the scheme — once known as Mencap Active Rotherham — will return to The Meeting Place, in Wingfield, from Saturday (April 28).

Organisers would like to meet service users old and new — along with their parents and carers — at an afternoon drop-in on Friday (April 27) at the Wensleydale Road site from 4pm.

Julie Haystead and Pete Jackson were laid off by Mencap last August, when the national charity said it could no longer afford their salaries.

After losing their Wingfield venue they started a new company, Jupeter 61, which offered a similar service at the Chislett Centre in Kimberworth Park.

“People were coming up there twice a week for eight months,” said Julie.

“The Chislett Centre has been really good — without their help we couldn’t have carried on.

“But every time we went up there, we had to transport all of our kit with us then take it away again.”

The service provided a range of activities from craft sessions and dances to bingo and seaside day trips

Speaking about the group’s return to The Meeting Place she said: “Some of these people have been with us for 15 or 20 years, so it really is like coming home, for them.

“We’re returning to base and it’s brilliant to be back.”

Organisers have spent thousands of pounds refurbishing the Wingfield venue, since Julie and Peter were handed the keys in March.

Their afternoon relaunch event will run until about 7pm, including a buffet and a table magician.

“We want to reconnect with people we haven’t seen for a while, as well as people who might want to use our services,” said Julie.

“People are welcome to pop in and look at the work we’ve done on The Meeting Place — it was absolutely falling to pieces.

“But we’ve done a lot of work and spent a lot of money, with help from fundraisers and friends who have done work at cost.”

The refurbished Meeting Place features a new kitchen, new floors and windows, along with new equipment and furniture.

Money has come from individual donors, team fundraising efforts, National Lottery grants and a £1,000 cheque from Tesco.

Visit www.the-meeting-place-wingfield.co.uk or telephone 07769916314 for more information.