John gets into the rhythm as Social Eyes celebrates ten years

A Rotherham service which started with just a handful of people has celebrated ten years of helping people with learning disabilities build friendships, confidence and independence.

John Healey visited Social Eyes at its home in the former Methodist Chapel on Princess Street, West Melton, as the service marks its tenth anniversary

A new film of the visit captures the spirit of the service, with John Healey joining in with activities and meeting the people at the heart of Social Eyes.

At the luncheon club, lunch preparations were already under way. After discovering he was too early for the pie, but not for a cup of tea, John Healey praised the way everyone gets involved.

“I love this,” John Healey, MP for Conisbrough and Rawmarsh, said.

He added: “They're not just paying for lunch and coming for a luncheon club. They get involved in helping make it and cook it, and then eat it."

Later came another challenge, when John Healey was persuaded to try his hand at the drums, with Taylor stepping in to show him what to do.

Social eyes was established in 2016 at The Drop-in Community Centre in Rawmarsh, beginning with its two founders and around three or four customers.

A decade later, its anniversary film reports 34 staff and 115 service users.

Its activities now range from music, dance and food preparation to football, sensory activities and opportunities to get involved in the wider community.

John Healey, who supported the team when Social eyes was first established and visited its original Rawmarsh base numerous times, said:

“I've been proud to support Social eyes from the very beginning, so coming back to celebrate ten years was very special.

“From those early days in Rawmarsh with just a handful of people, it has grown into a fantastic local community helping people build friendships, confidence and independence.

“Congratulations to everyone involved over the last ten years. I'm immensely proud to have been there at the start, and I can't wait to see what they achieve next.”