Paul’s Place is the only charity specifically supporting adults with any physical and cognitive impairment in the Bristol area - this includes Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.  Paul’s Place began life in 1995 and is for adults aged 18‑59. 

The day facility is currently based at Coalpit Heath Cricket Club, Serridge Lane, Coalpit Heath from Monday to Friday (10.00 am to 4.00 pm).  The day facility runs for 48 weeks a year.   

New members join the day facility through referral, either directly or through their local authority or independently by contacting us direct.  Potential new members receive an introduction pack and a meeting is arranged at the day facility.  If all is agreed, a place is offered.  

A successful evening social club meets on Wednesdays. 

If members are not available during the day, they are welcome to access all other activities provided by Paul’s Place.  

What are the main aims of Paul’s Place? 

  • To support and facilitate physically disabled adults;
  • To provide a safe social environment;
  • To promote independence whenever and wherever possible;
  • To provide an opportunity of a personal profile to enable a member to reach his/her full potential;
  • To provide a programme of individual and group activities;
  • To give members the opportunity to create their own environment.

 What does Paul’s Place offer to its members?

 Apart from the obvious social interaction that takes place, this may be the only activity outside the home that our members have.   When people first come along, they do not always have the life skills that others in our community have gained.  Until we learn to love ourselves, we can never have the confidence needed to take an active part in our community.  Part of our ethos is to support people in gaining inner strength and confidence so that the world becomes their oyster.  New friendships are formed and members find that there is a lot of fun and laughter at Paul’s Place - they very quickly become an integral part of the group.    

Day Facility 

Paul’s Place runs a day facility, five days per week, which includes: 

  • Life Skills: Including social awareness, assertiveness training; personal care; home care; relationships; and communication skills. 
  • Exercise: Including gym (where a full assessment is given), boccia, bowls, badminton, swimming, keep fit, relaxation & exercise; new age curling.  Paul’s Place has a boccia team who play in  national league.  
  • Support Plans: We are able to work with individual members to draw up a Support Plans to determine his/her own needs and personal aspirations.  
  • Other Activities: Members are able to take part in photography; fishing; birdwatching; drama; cookery; and watching films plus any other activity we can facilitate. 

Members produce a magazine every four months - everyone is encouraged to write articles and to send in jokes, recipes and book and film reviews.  The magazine “Paul’s Place Pieces” is both produced and edited by the members for the members.  This is then distributed to all the members and also interested parties throughout Bristol and the surrounding areas.   

Evening Social Club 

A full and varied social programme is organised for Wednesday evenings and at weekends, including quiz nights, cinema & theatre visits, bowling, meals out etc.   The Activities Committee plan the programme, which gives our members full control of the type of social activities organised.   

Most of our members, because of their disability, do not have the opportunity to have an evening social life.  By organising a programme with volunteer support workers, we are able to provide a full and varied social life for our members.   

Holidays/Respite 

Each year Paul’s Place organises a number of holidays, both in this country and abroad.  We look at this as a ‘double benefit’.  Not only does it allow our members full independence away from relatives/carers to enjoy fantastic holidays with adults of the same age, but also offers respite for the carers and family, which is equally as important. This gives carers/relatives time to fully relax, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones are supported in a safe environment. Opportunities for respite care in the community are very limited but we can offer the carers precious time to themselves and a chance to recuperate.