Paul’s Place Hub
Enhancing capacity and transforming lives: Our new inclusive space for physically disabled adults and those with complex disabilities.
Our new building
We’re taking exciting steps towards moving into our very own fully accessible building.
We envision a world that embraces disability and includes everyone, allowing people to live their lives to the full. Paul’s Place Hub is a transformative project to create a specialist, inclusive space for physically disabled adults and those with complex needs.
Our current facility no longer meets our members’ needs or the growing service demand. This vibrant new hub will expand essential services, reduce isolation, and improve the well-being of more people. It will unlock opportunities for disabled adults in rehabilitation, community engagement, volunteering, and even employment. A welcoming Community Café, staffed by our members and serving food from our allotment, will unite disabled and able communities.
Shire Way Community Centre to become ‘Paul’s Place Hub’
The Shire Way Community centre in Yate has sat untouched since early 2022. Because of a very generous anonymous legacy donation, we were able to acquire the centre and have huge plans to breathe new life into the much loved building.
We plan to repurpose the space so it is tailored specifically for physically disabled adults. This will create the space, facilities and opportunities we need to thrive.
Since getting the keys in September, we have been working hard to raise the significant funds needed for the work and to clear the abandoned building ready for the renovations. Unfortunately we have had set backs such as vandalism, theft, burst pipes to name a few BUT we are determined to get there.
Extra funds are needed to get us in by Autumn 2025. Donate to our appeal today.
How the Hub will make a difference
More Activities and rehabilitation
Our new hub will benefit physically disabled adults with a gold standard of specialised day facilities, and all under one roof. We can host and practise Boccia (a Paralympic sport) in the main hall. Saving us time and money in travelling to sport centres. A spacious kitchen will support members to learn life skills for increasing independence and opportunities to volunteer. A dedicated art, music, sensory and quiet room will offer therapy, more space and facilities for creative expressions. Our younger members can enjoy a gaming and movie room, and a radio station run by disabled people.
The indoor and outdoor space will have opportunities to relax, exercise, rehabilitate, do gardening and socialise.
And being near the community will make our day trips, short breaks, and social events more accessible.
Improved accessibility
Our new hub will make using the refurbished toilets easier and more dignified, including having three ‘changing places’ toilets. We will refit the entire building, so physically disabled adults can enter the building, use the corridors and access every room. The design will include sensory and temperature controls throughout the building. The extra space indoors and outside will offer more varied activities. It will support health, wellbeing, and skills development, with improved car parking for larger vehicles.
Community Café
A café will serve the community while supporting our members to volunteer and work. Our members can grow fresh produce onsite for serving in the café. The café and community allotment will enable our members and the community to work together and develop skills.
Respite for carers
With more meeting spaces, we can restart support and respite for families and carers, meeting their need to support one another.
Partnerships and community
We will have space to work with other organisations to meet the needs and aspirations of physically disabled adults. We also plan to hire out rooms for community events so members of the public can use the much-loved building at the heart of the community.
How the Hub will make a difference
More Activities and rehabilitation
Our new hub will benefit physically disabled adults with a gold standard of specialised day facilities, and all under one roof. We can host and practise Boccia (a Paralympic sport) in the main hall. Saving us time and money in travelling to sport centres. A spacious kitchen will support members to learn life skills for increasing independence and opportunities to volunteer. A dedicated art, music, sensory and quiet room will offer therapy, more space and facilities for creative expressions. Our younger members can enjoy a gaming and movie room, and a radio station run by disabled people.
The indoor and outdoor space will have opportunities to relax, exercise, rehabilitate, do gardening and socialise.
And being near the community will make our day trips, short breaks, and social events more accessible.
Improved accessibility
Our new hub will make using the refurbished toilets easier and more dignified, including having three ‘changing places’ toilets. We will refit the entire building, so physically disabled adults can enter the building, use the corridors and access every room. The design will include sensory and temperature controls throughout the building. The extra space indoors and outside will offer more varied activities. It will support health, wellbeing, and skills development, with improved car parking for larger vehicles.
Community Café
A café will serve the community while supporting our members to volunteer and work. Our members can grow fresh produce onsite for serving in the café. The café and community allotment will enable our members and the community to work together and develop skills.
Respite for carers
With more meeting spaces, we can restart support and respite for families and carers, meeting their need to support one another.
Partnerships and community
We will have space to work with other organisations to meet the needs and aspirations of physically disabled adults. We also plan to hire out rooms for community events so members of the public can use the much-loved building at the heart of the community.
What does Paul’s Place Hub mean to Sue?
Sue has cerebral palsy and myopathy, which effects the muscles we control. Sue tolerates the arthritic pain in her arms and shoulders, and she lives with cataracts in both eyes. Sue has been coming to Paul’s Place for 12 years and even met her partner here.
Every week, Sue looks forward to physiotherapy. The sit to stand exercise enables Sue to walk along the parallette bars unaided. Sue developed myopathy later in life, which made her wheelchair dependent for fourteen years. Sue said,
“I felt ecstatic, I can’t believe I did it”
Sue can now see a future in getting herself out of bed and into her wheelchair without a hoist.
Our Paul’s Place Hub will include a physiotherapy and a sensory room. Rather than having physio whenever the funding allows. Sue would have everything she needs in one place while building her confidence and skills to approach and connect with her wider community. She said,
“I wonder if more physiotherapy sessions could improve my chances to walk again?”
What does Paul’s Place Hub mean to Sue?
Sue has cerebral palsy and myopathy, which effects the muscles we control. Sue tolerates the arthritic pain in her arms and shoulders, and she lives with cataracts in both eyes. Sue has been coming to Paul’s Place for 12 years and even met her partner here.
Every week, Sue looks forward to physiotherapy. The sit to stand exercise enables Sue to walk along the parallette bars unaided. Sue developed myopathy later in life, which made her wheelchair dependent for fourteen years. Sue said,
“I felt ecstatic, I can’t believe I did it”
Sue can now see a future in getting herself out of bed and into her wheelchair without a hoist.
Our Paul’s Place Hub will include a physiotherapy and a sensory room. Rather than having physio whenever the funding allows. Sue would have everything she needs in one place while building her confidence and skills to approach and connect with her wider community. She said,
“I wonder if more physiotherapy sessions could improve my chances to walk again?”
Latest news
The Bradbury Foundation awards significant grant
In a significant boost to our development efforts, The Bradbury Foundation has awarded a remarkable grant to support our Paul’s Place Hub appeal.
The sizeable grant from The Bradbury Foundation will act as a catalyst for our fundraising efforts, inspiring additional contributions from other donors, businesses, and the community. Our capital appeal is getting closer to achieving its goal, thanks in part to the foundation’s generous support but we still have a way to go!
Raise the roof campaign gets TV coverage
Our Raise the Roof campaign hit the local and regional news, as thieves stole lead from the roof, causing us a substantial set back. The roof was our only saving grace, as it didn’t need any work. Our appeal raised almost £2K. 
It clearly shows with your support what we can achieve for physically disabled adults.
Paul’s Place has unveiled plans for a move to ‘The Shire Way Centre’ in what is a “really transformative and exciting time” for our charity and the local community.
Our charity enhances the lives of physically disabled adults, and currently operates out of Coalpit Heath cricket club. We provide social activities that connect people, reduce isolation, improve health and wellbeing, and give people the opportunity to develop new skills and enjoy new experiences.
Donate