Wokingham

Wokingham Borough Council’s Acorn Community Centre for adults with learning disabilities will open its doors next week.

The Acorn Community Centre will replace the existing Wokingham Resource and Opportunity Centre in Woosehill Lane, Wokingham which is in a poor state of repair and is no longer fit for purpose.

WROC members have been involved in decisions on the new centre’s design and how it will be equipped. WROC member Derek Mackenzie, who will cut the ribbon at the opening on Monday September 17, originally put the name of the centre forward. People who attend the CResCent Centre in Earley chose the café name, the Rainbow Café.

WROC provides support, care and daytime activities for Wokingham adults with learning disabilities and the new centre will allow it to expand and improve the services it offers. The Acorn Community Centre has been developed as part of Wokingham Borough Council’s aim to modernise services for people with learning disabilities and to ensure they are part of the community. The building has a sensory room, which is calming and stimulating, an art room with a kiln, an IT room and other rooms for meetings and activities.

The Acorn Community Centre will be used exclusively by WROC members for the first 12 weeks after it opens to allow them to settle in, and after that it will be open to the public who will be able to hire rooms, use the computer suite or just pop in for a coffee.

Executive member for Wokingham social care Cllr David Lee said: “The Acorn Community Centre is a superb new facility and shows what can be achieved by professionals and WROC members working together. I am sure all clients and visitors will enjoy this new and exciting facility.”

Wokingham Borough Council