A LONG-HELD ambition to set up a centre for disabled adults has finally been realised.

The Forget Me Not day centre in Rochford has opened its doors to show parents and carers what’s on offer to young adults with learning disabilities and special needs.

The centre is the brainchild of Dianne Griffiths, her son Alan Jarvis and friend and neighbour Teresa Milton.

The centre had been in the pipeline for years, but had always struggled to find somewhere suitable.

Now the centre has opened on the Riverside Industrial Estate, thanks to Alan, 36, who moved his catering business, which was based there, to Basildon.

The centre offers a range of activities from pool, arts and crafts, music, drama, games and computers. It also provides a valuable service by teaching young adults life skills, such as food preparation and cooking, cleaning and ironing.

The layout is similar to a home with an open-plan kitchen and diner as well as an outside garden area.

However, Dianne, 61, said the centre wasn’t just about keeping those in need inside. She says it’s important to get them into the community so they can improve their life skills.

She said the day centre arranged shopping at the local market, advice on how to use buses and trains and taking people out for meals.

She said: “We didn’t want a day centre where they have got to be in there and that’s it. We can go shopping to the market, bring everything back here and prepare lunch.”

Dianne has been fostering children for 32 years and now looks after four young adults, Matthew, 26, Nick, 24, Sarah, 22, and Conor, 16.

She said: “Sarah was my first foster child with a disability. I have had her since she was seven years old. She has cerebal palsy and severe global learning. I like seeing their progress, every little thing they achieve. Matthew has only been with me 18 months. He was very shy and timid, but now he is a lot more outgoing.”

Mum-of-three Teresa, 46, started her career as a nursery nurse 25 years ago.

About 12 years ago she started working with young adults with learning disabilities and said the three of them had a long-held ambition to set up a centre.

She said: “We were talking about it for the last three or four years. My children are all older now and we decided it would be a good time to go into something if we could.

“The hardest thing was finding the premises. When Alan moved his business to Basildon, we jumped in quick.

“We funded it ourselves and have had lots of fantastic friends and family who have donated lots of furniture. We have put about £10,000 in. Because we are all so passionate about it, we really, really went for it. It has been a lot of hard work. We have been here morning until night.”

One of the people who knows how important a day centre like this can be is mum Gay Battersbee.

Her son Sam, 22, has a rare condition called deletion 2Q37 syndrome. Only about eight cases of the syndrome have been recorded and it causes epilepsy, knee and hearing problems.

Gay, 49, who lives in Eastwood, said after Sam left the Lancaster School it was important for him to carry on learning life skills.

She said: “The life skills are definitely important to me and Sam to continue what he learnt when he was at school. A lot of day centres don’t continue that.

“He enjoys helping out at home. He goes to a club every single night of the week. There are clubs galore, but not a lot of day centres. With Sam, we want him to keep on learning.”

Alison Attwood, 45, of Rochford Road, Southend, is one of the support workers at the centre.

She said: “I am friends with Dianne and Teresa. I have always done this sort of work. I just love being with these guys as you get so much from them.

“The centre is definitely needed around here. It is a really good location as it is close to everything.”

The centre officially opens on Monday. It will be open from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

To find out more about the centre call 01702 545111.