About Waves

Our business…

WAVES is a dynamic and forward thinking business, which offers young people and adults with learning difficulties and disabilities significant opportunities to improve the quality of their lives.

Waves is situated in a unique position along the canal side in Slaithwaite, which offers outstanding eco-educational walks right from the door.

We offer a broad and exciting range of opportunities and activities. Members are free to select an appropriate range of experiences, these then link together to form a personalised programme for each member. These tailor made programmes make a significant difference to both the quality and meaning of our member’s lives.

Central to our philosophy is our relentless commitment to the integration of our members within the local community, which has been achieved by: –

Providing a centre in the heart of the community.
Offering activities linked to the local environment and staffed by locally qualified people.
Forging tangible links with local employees to provide work placements.
Inviting local business owners, council leaders and members of the community to a regular programme of events.

To ensure that both our members and business partners are safe we provide a wide range of appropriate training, which include safe-guarding, behaviour that challenges, first aid, risk assessment and personal safety.

The philosophy of Waves is encapsulated in the Care Quality Commission statement – (Outcome 1, regulation 17) which states providers who comply with the regulations will:

- Recognise the diversity, values and human rights of people who use services.
- Put people who use services at the centre of their care, by enabling them to make decisions.

Encourage and enable people who use services to be involved in how the service is run.
Encourage and enable people who use services to be an active part of their community.

Waves is unique in offering:

A range of packages to suit people, commitments and budgets, including opening times that are in line with working parents or carers busy life styles. Gold Package Waves members are guaranteed 7 hours a day in the Centre accessing the activities and facilities. Our members arrive from 08.30h to 09.00hrs and leave between 1600-1630hrs.
High quality breakfasts and lunches and afternoon tea. Dietary requirements can be catered for including vegetarian, gluten free etc.
Fantastic links with our local community and approximately 60% of the businesses in Slaithwaite alone.
Extensive gardens, a secure live stock area, a bee and butterfly sanctuary, a poly tunnel, raised flower beds and decking that backs on to the River Colne. From planting seeds, nurturing plants, to picking and selling our produce to our local Green Valley Grocer and filling our veggie bags for our parents/carers, striking a balance between a practical and sensory experience.
Darwin’s Retreat our Educational Centre for animal husbandry and natural sciences, situated within our garden area.
Waves offers a variety of activities including baking, animal care, journalism, enterprise, arts & crafts, science projects, independent living training, mechanics, music, performing arts, model railway club, sports, swimming, walks, horticulture, animal husbandry, film club and many more.
“SoundWaves” encourages members to create their own music & CDs This is uploaded weekly to the SoundCloud app, YouTube and Facebook.
A range of enterprise opportunities including: millinery, felting, clothes repairs, scenery and costumes for our waves shows, art work for our exhibitions at The Emporium, Up Cycling and more
A monthly Waves Magazine from the Media Team.
Independent travel training to enable members to travel from home to Waves independently, reducing their direct payment per day.
Boasts a Hydrotherapy Centre, Spa and changing facilities including massage, sauna, hot tub and beauty treatments all fully accessible.
Sensory bays including infinity tunnel, ladder lights, music and resonance sound system, musical waterbed and bespoke illuminated ball pool.
Waves Bistro in Waves 2, our main dining area offering an exceptionally high quality menu prepared by our own chef using locally sourced produce.
Provides the opportunity for a team of members in Waves 1, to offer sandwiches, paninis and jacket potatoes as well as preparing their own lunches on a daily basis. We offer these members the opportunity to complete their basic food hygiene certificate.
Providing a caring environment for more complex needs members that would benefit from a sensory environment.
Waves employ local people to teach our specialist sessions, which include classes in Pilates, Stretch and Tone, World Dance, Music & Media, DJ Skills, Art, African Drumming, Sport & Performing Arts. The members have opportunities to go horse riding at a local stables (at an extra cost) or join the local gym.

In addition to all of the above, we also offer:

High quality respite, No 6 Waves has it own canal side cottage, where members can spend their respite allowance. It is a valuable addition to Waves as it reinforces independent living skills that are taught within the centre and allows members to use their learnt skills. Whilst on respite, they can continue their work placements and activities at Waves in the supportive community of Slaithwaite.

Bespoke residential holidays to carefully selected locations including The Outer Hebrides, Center Parcs (Penrith and Nottingham), Lanzarote and Lapland.

“BrainWaves” our education provision has registered with the awarding body – Northern Open College Network (NOCN) to deliver Independent Living Skills and/or Employability Skills; Entry 1,2,3, Award, Certificate and Diploma level. The qualifications offer a range of exciting choices of units to build individual portfolios, with an emphasis on practical skills that add meaning and purpose to the lives of our members. This is based in our large, well equipped classroom in Waves 1, but will focus mainly on practical activities in and around Waves and with our local work placements.

Every member has their own key worker who will negotiate with them a set of independent living and social targets. Reviews are held three times a year including an annual review with parents and carers. A daily diary is written with each member as appropriate and is accessible by the members alongside their targets online. Parents and carers can access these if the member is happy for them to do so. This personal information is password protected.

As you can see from the above, Waves has an excellent reputation, built on its high level of care and support both to the clients and their families.