Gateway Club

Situated next to Harrowgate Hill WMC

Map

Club is for people with learning disabilities providing various activities: Snooker, Pool, Table Tennis, Badminton, TV Room, tuckshop, sports, Arts & Crafts, Relaxation, Health & Beauty & Cookery. 

Sharon Keelan - Senior Club

Mon, Thurs, Fri evenings 7pm – 9pm

18 yrs+

£15.00/year membership (as of Jan 09) or 50p per night

Telephone (01325) 350 078 

Erica Lowe – Junior Club
Tues evenings 6pm – 8pm
50 per night
Telephone (01325) 350 078 

Events - Social evenings all welcome

The ethos of the Darlington Mencap Society is one which provides social and leisure activities to people aged seven and upwards with mild to profound learning difficulties. We pride ourselves on doing this in a safe, clean and inviting environment with fantastic volunteers helping us to achieve our goals.

Our membership numbers increase with each year and as such is testament to the buzz and atmosphere in the club.  We are extremely lucky to have been recognised by Darlington County Council in our provision of services and on November 20th 2008 won 'Darlington Access Award 2008' which was presented to our Club Chairman, Mr Tom Stebbings and Club Secretary, Mrs Nancy Oliver on the Club's behalf.

Activities range from table top games to darts, snooker, pool, bingo, arts and crafts, baking, discos, badminton, kurling, table tennis, football and other outdoor sports. We have most  recently been privileged to be granted funding by Cummins and this has helped us purchase our IT suite, chill out room with games consoles and our soon to be completed sensory room all of which we are very proud of.   Our dealings with Cummins does not end there, we are hoping that it will be a long term partnership and were extremely happy to invite them down to the club to formally open the new rooms a few weeks ago.  Cummins graduates are currently looking at ways in which they can become involved with the club and we welcome their involvement.

Outside of the club nights we hold social evenings and have been lucky enough to find some great acts. Miss Hollywood, who sings a range of songs, genres and adds some great costume changes to add effect, Double Trouble who again have a vast range of musical styles to give everyone something they like.  We have Andy Brown for the Country and Western enthusiasts, the Musical Time Machine, who very kindly come to us each and every year as they are such a success and many more acts throughout the year.

Our annual BBQ night is always enjoyable and with the added laugh of everyone dressing up in fancy dress it really does make for a good night.  Just recently we have been in contact with the band "In the Mood" who have very kindly offered to come to the club and help us raise funds.  We are hoping to see them on March 6th 2009 and will keep you posted with further details.

We also arrange trips out to places such as Lightwater Valley, Ceramic Experience, the Sealife Centre and Discovery Museum to name just a few. The last few years we began our Annual Sports day which is an absolutely fantastic day for all involved and most recently our Gateway Talent evening.  This is open to everyone and the evening allows family and friends of the club to come for a night of entertainment provided soley by our extremely talented members, carers and volunteers. 

We are always looking for new places to visit and things to do and welcome ideas, so if you would like to see the club involved in a new activity or have been somewhere you think we might  enjoy as a group please let us know."