CARE hubs designed to provide therapeutic and multi-sensory activities for people requiring specialist care and support have been launched at five bases across the county.

The Durham County Council Care and Support Pathways care hubs are based in the council’s leisure centres at Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor and Stanley and in community venues in Pity Me, Durham and Essington road, Peterlee. All five are officially opened this week in a series of celebration events.

County council team manager for Care and Support Pathways, Karen Vasey, said: “All of our team members have really put their hearts and souls into making sure the care hubs are warm and friendly places for people with the most complex and specialist care needs.”

The care hubs provide a wide range of therapeutic activities including rebound trampoline sessions to enhance movement patterns, therapeutic positioning, exercise and recreation; hydrotherapy to relieve discomfort and promote physical wellbeing; specially adapted sports and games and food awareness, touch, taste and cookery sessions.

County council vice-chairman Cllr Mike Dixon said: “The care hubs provide such a huge range of activities for our service users and the benefits of the therapeutic activities include improvements to muscle tone and limb strength as well as an increased sense of wellbeing and enhanced quality of life.

"We hope that with our new centres, more services users from across the county will be able to benefit from sessions with us.”

As part of the launch programme a courtyard garden at the Pity Me hub has been completely transformed in a 10-week project. Designed and developed by service users and staff from partner organisation, Groundwork, the space now offers a sensory garden where people can gather to relax, reflect quietly or talk with friends.

For more information about the Pathways care hubs across the county, visit: http://www.durham.gov.uk/carehubs.