About the club…
Torbay Gateway Club was formed many years ago to provide social activities for individuals from the age of sixteen upwards with all forms of disabilities and learning difficulties in and around the Torbay area. It is run by a committee of members and meets once a week, on a Tuesday night at Jasmyn House, Midvale Road, Paignton from 6.30pm until 9pm, for a few hours of companionship.
The club offers various activities including craft and card making, use of pool tables and general social activities (always open to new ideas!). We have a tea and coffee bar offering soft drinks, crisps, biscuits and chocolate bars etc. Over a monthly period we hold a disco using our own equipment, the second week general activities, third week a highly popular bingo session, the fourth week general activities and so on…
On various nights throughout the year a food night is organised with a disco to raise funds for various activities and outings, including a highly popular visit to the pantomime.
Also, transport can be provided for those who require it to take them home under supervision after the club night. Note, this will depend on availability of seats on the minibus and member’s location.
The club provides a much valued social night for the seventy or eighty members who regularly attend as it is possibly the only time during the week they are able to ‘chill out’ on their own in a social group.
A weekly subscription fee of £1.00 is payable for attendance on the evening.
Attendance is open to members only. To enquire about how to become a member or to find out more information, please contact any of the following:
Club Chairperson:
Janet Pearce
Tel: 01803 212368 or 07783017391
Email: Angel53@sky.com
Club Secretary:
Mo Jones
Tel: 01803 859285 or 07960896958
Email: Jones_david117@sky.com
Club Leader:
Barry Knapman
Tel: 01626 353708
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED – please contact Club Chairperson if you would like to volunteer.
Hello my name is Matt, i have an 8yr old boy with complex issues he is both mentally and physically disabled and was wondering if he may be able to attend a club also wether I as a parent/carer can seek any thing within your organization.
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Hi Matt,
I’m Alex, the Torbay Mencap website editor. I have a 14 year old son at Mayfield School in Torquay who has complex learning difficulties and disabilities. The social group we are affiliated to, the Torbay Gateway Club, is currently focused on over 16s. It’s a long established group for adults.
Having said that, my son attends a regular group in Torquay on a Wednesday evening from 6.30pm – 8pm – it’s the highlight of his week – which is called the Torbay Phab Club. It’s run out of Barton Baptist Church and Wed night is youth night. They enjoy a range of activities and Mark, the chap that runs the group, is a top bloke. It’s all about having fun and developing social skills in a supportive environment. Everyone is welcome. If you want to have a look at their website it’s http://www.phabtorquay.info/Phab-Junior.html I’d recommend getting in touch with Mark and arranging a date to bring your son along; he’ll be made to feel most welcome.
In the meantime, Torbay Mencap meet every month. We’re a group of volunteers who look at ways of developing opportunities for people with learning difficulties and disabilities in Torbay. It’s a very informal session and, coincidentally, we’re meeting next Thursday. If you would like to come along and introduce yourself to a group of friendly parents, you’re more than welcome. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll provide more details.
If you have any other questions, let me know.
Alex
thehowarths@yahoo.co.uk
07912481008
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I used to go to the Torbay Gateway Club, back in 2008 when it used to Hollacombe CRC on a Tuesday evening back in those days, until the home I lived in Torquay closed down in August 2011. But, I did howver come to the club recently on Tuesday 19th June 2018, and was nice to see many faces I hadn’t seen for nearly seven years, and join in at the karaoke that day.
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