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: The new hub will offer the gold standard of specialist daycare for adults with disabilities. Boccia will now be played on-site in a large hall, without the time and expenditure needed to travel to and hire sports centres. A spacious kitchen will help members learn life skills. Dedicated art, music, sensory and quiet rooms will provide therapeutic intervention and creative expression. We will have a gaming and movie room for younger members and a radio station run by disabled people. Other indoor and outdoor spaces will provide opportunities for exercise, rehabilitation/physio, gardening, relaxing, or socialising. Day trips, short breaks, and social events will remain part of our programme.
Improved accessibility: We will create more accessible toilets including three ‘changing places’ toilets, entrances, corridors, rooms, easily navigated spaces, and better parking. Sensory needs and temperature regulation will be integrated at every level of design. We will have new stimulating indoor and outdoor spaces that meet the needs of our members and provide opportunities for more varied activities that support health, well-being, and skills development.
Community Café: A Community Café serving affordable, nutritious food with produce grown on-site by members in an allotment. With opportunities for our members to work/volunteer; the café will help develop valuable skills and experience while cultivating a more inclusive society.
Respite for carers: With more meeting spaces, we can restart support and respite for families and carers, meeting their need to support one another better.
Partnerships and community:We will have space to collaborate with complementary organisations. 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 of Yate.
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
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.
Charity heartbroken by theft launches appeal
We are in the process of a big project to move our service to the Shire Way Community Centre. This is a huge undertaking for our small charity involving a complete refit and refurb to bring the building up to specification to meet the needs of the adults we support.
The roof was the only part of the building that DID NOT need any work but unfortunately this is no longer the case. We are so sad to report that some one has stolen a lot of the lead and caused so much damage in the process.
The reality is, this is going to set us back and we need to carry out these repairs immediately to ensure further damage to the internal building does not happen.
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