South Yorkshire hub people with autism and disabilities scoops ‘Most Outstanding’ crown in national awards

The UK Enablement Awards were presented in Manchester in April this year, and The Base Community Hub walked away with the accolade: The Most Outstanding Community Hub for Young Adults with Autism and Learning Disabilities in the UK in 2024.

The Enablement Awards were created to celebrate and reward excellence, innovation and exemplary achievements in the disability care sector in the UK.

The Base Community Hub Directors Anthony & Michelle Wilson said they were thrilled with the awards, as were their clients: “It’s really heart-warming to see our clients and their families so happy.”

Although Base has been in operation around six years, and is gaining national recognition, it’s not always known about locally – something Anthony hopes will now change. The organisation currently supports around 50 young people across South Yorkshire, including Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, and has space for more. Most are referred through social services but some come privately.

It’s all about The Base!

The Base Community Hub provides facilities for young adults aged 14+ with autism and learning disabilities and some with dementia. It operates six days a week from 9am to 4pm and there is no upper age limit

Its care focusses on helping people to be active, fit and to socialise – as well as learning and trying new crafts or skills. That combination of sports, leisure, creativity and learning sets it apart. Here tailor-made packages are designed for all members, whatever their starting ability.

It offers sports, health, fitness and wellbeing at Base2Fitness in Herringthorpe Stadium and extended education via AQA UCAS Awards Scheme through its Base4Learning Area.

The hub supports individuals to socialise with their peers – there’s a disco every Tuesday evening – and also to develop and enjoy their interests. There is an area for gamers, a beauty and music room, as well as a sensory room and sensory garden. There is a wheelchair accessible allotment at the Base3Garden, which also has an outdoor therapy room and an area designed especially for animal care, which is currently home to the Base’s chickens.

When asked what he thought set it apart from others in the sector, to warrant the award Anthony said: “I think it’s the range of things that we offer. We cover all areas from sports coaching from professional athletes and coaches, to delivering STEM education, to social events and outings.

“Our offering is fantastic, we have a fantastic team who really care about the clients”

He said the holistic approach to caring for their wellbeing through this range of activities is at the forefront of it all, and he urged people to come along and have a look at what they do.

National recognition

The UK Enablement Awards recognise the rapid growth of this sector in the region, and the capacity of individuals to influence and set new performance standards. The awards focus on elevated performance; the creation of new business models; contrarian thinking; recognising and embracing new trends; market leadership; inspirational performance and the elevation of the customer experience.

The evaluation methodology required the Awards Secretariat to apply the following test to the final selected candidate in each category, “Is this claimant the best performed, most meritorious, most innovative and most courageous in the category?”

The awards cover a wide range of categories offering support, care and services for people with additional needs including education, accommodation and living, support, volunteering and mental health services. Each year the awards are only awarded in the categories which merit the accolade.

Find out more

Potential clients, their families and support workers are welcome to come along to see what happens at the hub. Take a look at their website here for more details