Certificates of Recognition for Day Service customers

Our Earley Day Service held a Christmas Coffee morning for customers, parents and carers. We had a good response to our invite, and Cllr Bob Pitts, one of Optalis' Board Directors attended too!

We held a Christmas Sale run by our Social Enterprise Group, where parents, carers, customers and members of the community had the chance to buy handmade Christmas gifts for their loved ones.

One of our Senior Social Workers, Patricia Sainsbury, and Cllr Bob Pitts presented customers with Certificates of Recognition for everything each individual had achieved over 2013. The range of achievements included taking part in art sessions, developing IT skills, helping new Optalis customers settle in, and helping staff with tidying up.

Cllr Pitts said: "I was privileged to represent the Optalis Board at the Crescent Resource Centre Christmas coffee morning. It was nice to meet some of the clients again, some of whom I have known for many years and have not seen for a long time. It was also an honour to be asked to present some certificates to those clients who had achieved a task, whether it be welcoming people or something else.

"I was particularly humbled by two parents who were talking about their son and the difficulties they have faced. When they said that Optalis had been a lifeline through the Resource Centre it shows that we are providing a much needed and appreciated service. This is a Centre where the staff are doing us proud and it was a pleasure to go there."