Exeter Gateway Centre

Jamie has been coming to the Gateway Centre for a long time now. He loves meeting his friends and enjoys many of the activities. Jamie likes to give most things a try and in previous summers has shown he’s very good at bowls. At the centre, he particularly likes playing pool with his best friends Brian and Scott plus the centre manager, Daryl, and making items linked to all things lorries and Manchester Utd Football Club!

On Saturday 25th September, members (and carers and family) enjoyed a couple of hours at the centre- a chance to catch up with friends they hadn’t see for over a year! Prior to the event, Suzanne helped to plant some new bedding plants after Martin helped to clear the troughs. Inside, members had been busy making items to sell, including fridge magnets and ornaments as well as decorating bottles (with lights inside).

On the day, there was a raffle, bring and buy and cakes for sale. Thanks to a generous grant from Exeter City Council, the centre purchased an outdoor pizza oven which was used to great effect for those who attended. On a previous Tuesday, members tried out a pizza dough recipe, making sure everything was suitable for the main event!

The centre now has new logo, part of which contains our at present un-named mascot-a border collie puppy. On the day and this week, suggestions have been made and the unveiling will be very soon!

A big thank you goes to all those members, carers and family that attended, as well as the staff and trustees for making the day a success.

Since the last post, activities have been in full swing, including cooking, ‘making’ and gardening. Martin has been busy keeping the greenhouse in check and sorting the composters. Suzanne helped to plant mange-tout, carrots, potatoes and broccoli and hopefully with some sunshine and regular watering we will enjoy a bumper crop. We enjoyed a week of barbecues using the lettuces grown in the beds and harvested by Rachael, as our salad.

Inside the centre, we have celebrated a few birthdays including Scott-his expertly made cake was thoroughly enjoyed by all. A big thanks to Debbie and Tracy for their work in the kitchen.

We welcomed Carolyn, our new activities coordinator and senior support worker, in mid July and she wasted no time in encouraging members to create a display linked to the Olympics. Members have also been painting, colouring, decorating jars and pebbles, playing pool, chatting and of course ‘bingoing’!

Last week saw the first food cooked on the new barbecue. Both Daryl and Jonathan were chefs and members ate an array of food, including haloumi kebabs, chicken, sausages and burgers over the course of the week. Erin, our volunteer, kindly made cheesecake and cookies for all, so everyone enjoyed a feast!

During the great weather, the beds were harvested of the onions and leeks and the greenhouse is more like a rainforest as the vegetables have grown considerably! We are looking forward to picking courgettes, tomatoes, peppers and chillies.

We have celebrated several birthdays, with Cathie baking a cake for us all to share. There has been more cooking in the shape of scones-cheese and leeks (from the beds) and savoury too.

Members have been busy with the usual activities and have also been decorating pebbles and glass jars and bottles. Afternoon bingo has seen plenty of winners choosing a variety of prizes and there is a real feeling of fun and enjoyment throughout the day.

Suzanne has been spending a lot of time outside, whether helping in the garden or practising her archery skills-so far, the target has been coming off the worst rather than the members!

Last week, we successfully interviewed for an Activities Co-ordinator/Senior Support Worker, who will be starting next month-more to follow.

Hopefully, over the coming weeks we will have some more members returning and also be able to welcome some new faces.

The centre has been busy over the last few weeks, with members keeping occupied throughout the day. We have been working hard in the garden, with Suzanne and Tony (plus others), planting, weeding and watering. With Jonathan’s help, the duo planted up two roses in memory of Becky and Sarah, which are placed either side of the main entrance for all to remember them.

Inside, the pool/air hockey table is getting plenty of use (obviously cleaned down and players distancing), and a range of other activities are taking place. Members have been decorating pebbles with their names and other designs, to either take home or put in the centre’s garden.

We have purchased a new barbecue, thanks to Exeter City FC and another donation, which we are planning to use next month for a week of outdoor meals, weather permitting! Hopefully, the sun will come out and members can spend more time outside, whether gardening, colouring or just enjoying a chat.

With the pleasant April weather, many members have been busy out in the garden and greenhouse. Under the watchful eye of Jane, Suzanne, Tracy and Michelle potted on the tomato and basil seedlings plus planted some courgette, pepper and chilli plants in the greenhouse.

Jonathan took Suzanne, Tony and Tracy into the garden area to tidy and sow some wild flower seed. Hopefully, along with the already blooming bedding plants the garden will be very colourful and fragrant come summer.

We have celebrated Jamie and John’s birthdays, with Cathie creating two fantastic cards for them both.

Rachael, among others, has been busy decorating tins and pots with pictures of their choice, ranging from pop stars to model trains. The usual colouring and word searching has been popular and the bingo prize box needs refilling!

As the weeks progress we look forward to many more familiar faces coming back to the centre and old friends can be reunited.

Since reopening on the 8th March, the returning members have been keeping themselves busy in the centre. There have been plenty of safe activities to partake in, from bingo to gardening and cooking to colouring.

Suzanne and Tony spent a time planting and tidying the garden, helping Daryl to repurpose the bbq into a planter and also filling the pots around the exterior of the building. Tracy, Michelle and Emma made some delicious Easter treats and most members had a go at designing their own eggs, with some fantastic results!

We are looking forward to the weather improving and getting outside-there are sweet peas to plant as well as fruit and veg to go into the greenhouse and beds.

Hopefully, the current situation improves, we can welcome back more members to the centre

It is with great sadness that one of our members, Sarah, passed away recently. She was a long time attendee at the Gateway Centre and spent many a happy day taking part in the activities with her friends. Sarah was very popular-her infectious smile and raucous laugh were loved by all and she left a lasting impression on all those that met her. Her love of Abba was no secret, entertaining members and staff on the karaoke machine. Sarah will be sorely missed.

The last four months have flown by, and members and staff alike have certainly become used to the new way in which the centre operates. Everyone has coped admirably, and despite the smaller numbers, we have managed to maintain a vibrant atmosphere and enjoy a host of activities in and outside the centre.

With the build up to Christmas, members have been colouring, card and gift making, cooking and of course playing bingo! Hopefully, as the situation improves, we can welcome back more members and increase the range of opportunities.

We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, in whatever form it takes, and a Happy and Safe New Year from everyone at The Exeter Gateway Centre.

The members have been very active over the past few weeks, with plenty of word-searching, colouring, bingo, painting and generally having fun being amongst friends. Safety measures are being well adhered to, and everyone is now familiar with the routines within the centre.

On the days leading up to Halloween, some members (and staff) came in suitably scary outfits and activities were linked to the theme.

We’ve managed some socially distanced cooking, with Paul and Emma baking some very tasty cheese scones. In the next few weeks, some members will be making and decorating Christmas cakes.

Prior to closure, several members had worked hard on a mosaic sign to put out the front. Gareth had put in a particular amount of time and was pleased to see his labours on display-all we need now is people to notice both the new and existing sign and realise that we are not the Sycamore Centre!