Turning Heads CIC – changing perceptions and lives​ announces its exciting new skills centre for residents of Torbay 

Since 2018 Turning Heads have been fighting to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged in Torbay, including those struggling financially, those with disabilities and neurodivergences and those furthest from employment.

We have opened a Day Service, Social supermarket, community café and kitchen, run social groups, Childrens’ holiday clubs, cookery classes and a food recipe delivery business. More recently we opened our Tech Hub to help bridge the digital divide.

Through all these ventures we have become one of the biggest employers of people with disabilities in the Bay, giving opportunities to those previously denied paid employment. 

Now we are proud to announce our new project – A skills centre on Lime Avenue, Torquay.

We want to empower people and increase their confidence, employability and wellbeing by teaching them IT skills, woodworking, pottery, cookery, holistic beauty therapies, arts and crafts and learning how to upcycle furniture.

This amazing project has been funded by Turning Heads, The Claire Milne Trust, The Gibbons Trust and through the help of Sanctuary and the Lovell Project Team.

Through the re-development of Hatfield House, Sanctuary and Lovell Project team have engaged in working alongside Turning Heads, a local community interest company that works with people and organisations across Torbay; working to provide Healthier, Safer and more Resilient Communities. 

Turning Heads have a site that is situated a ten-minute walk from the Hatfield House development, where we run a Community Kitchen and Social Supermarket. Previously the Lovell team have provided items for various collection boxes. 

Turning Heads Chief Executive, Alan Tilley, recently approached Sanctuary and Lovell to assist with various items for their new Technology Hub and Employment Skills Centre at Windsor House (Torquay). These items include a new kitchenette, toilets, hand driers, water heater for sinks, electric panel heaters etc. 

Sanctuary, Lovell and their subcontractors associated with the Hatfield House project, have been delighted to assist in providing materials and undertaking the works that were required. 

The ‘Cutting the Ribbon’ launch event, the opening of the new Technology Hub and Employment Skills Centre, will be on the 8 April 2024 at Windsor House at 10am. 

Check out our movie below

See below poster and Application Form for HAF over Easter Holidays.

On the 18th December we held our Turning Heads Christmas party. Amazing turn out with 92 people coming for dinner, a disco and entertainment. Fantastic event, lovely to see everyone dressed up and enjoying the festivities before Christmas. Huge thank you to everyone for their hard work.

This Christmas, we ran our third HAF programme and welcomed over 25 children to The Windmill Centre to take part in a range of art and craft activities, cooking, gaming and lots of silly festive games.

Here are some of the images from the programme.

Really delighted to see some new faces and some regulars and we begin planning and looking forward to Easter HAF.

Our day services at the Windmill Centre will re-open on Wednesday 3rd January and Friday 5th January.

We will then be closed for the following week due to maintenance work at the community centre. There will be NO DAY SERVICES running the 8th, 10th and 12th January.

We will then be open as normal from MONDAY 15th JANUARY.

ALSO – OUR NEW HOURS OF BUSINESS FOR 2024 AT THE WINDMILL CENTRE WILL BE:

Monday and Wednesday – 9am until 4pm

Friday – 9am until 3pm

This Christmas school holiday, do not go hungry.

If you have children who are on free school meals then please see our family support offer.

This is all being funded by Nightshift Pest Control Ltd who have kindly donated £500 towards this offer.