Proposals in the Community Activity and Day Services public consultation outline a transformational community based approach, providing more choice, flexibility and independence. They were developed alongside people with additional support needs, their families and carers, including a co-production workshop involving 80 people.

Plans would mean a wider range of activities, at times to suit people, including evenings and weekends, and include volunteering, supported employment, and independent living skills. Structured support will continue for those who need it.

The consultation runs from Friday 24 April to Tuesday 2 June. It includes options on the future of four existing day centre buildings.

As more people enjoy flexible, personalised approaches and activities out and about in different community settings, use of traditional buildings-based day services has dropped significantly.

Herefordshire Council Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Carole Gandy, said:

“People with extra support and care needs, their carers and families have told us clearly that we need to focus on offering activities people want to do, when and where they want, in their local communities.

“This is about transforming people’s lives – providing the choice, control and independence they deserve, and the chance to enjoy everyday activities where they live. It will support independence, skills development, mental health and wellbeing, and social connectivity - rather than relying on traditional day centre services.”

Adult Social Care staff from Herefordshire Council, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), and the service provider Aspire, have already started discussions with service users at St Owen’s on potential alternative options. These include continuing to attend a different Aspire service in Hereford city centre, at the Hub, where the staff from St Owen’s will be transferred. Other popular options include one-to-one support at home; and taking part in wider activities at varied community locations delivered by other specialist providers; and personalised care and support programmes. Discussions are also under way with the five people who use the three day centres for older people on alternative options.

Summary of the proposals

• The redesigned Community Activity approach will give individuals more choice and control over how they spend their time, with flexible, personalised support based on their specific strengths, preferences and goals and a wider range of activities, at times to suit them.
• The new model will enable people to take part in everyday activities in their local communities, supporting independence, skills development, mental health and wellbeing, and social connectivity - rather than relying on traditional Day Centre services.
• The consultation also seeks views on closing three existing day centres for older people, where just 6.2% of the commissioned 225 days a week are currently used, and on stopping service delivery from the building at St Owen’s, run by Aspire for Adults with Learning Disabilities. Staff from St Owen’s will move to alternative Hereford city location ‘The Hub’ on Canal Road, also run by Aspire. People using these types of services have told us they want us to keep expanding the variety and locations of community activities available to them outside of traditional buildings-based care and support, which is a continued trend in the evidence of service usage. This will also enable Aspire to continue enhancing the specialist services provided in a single Hereford city centre location for adults who need specialist support.
• The strategy was shaped with people currently using Adult Social Care community activities who are eligible for support under the Care Act. It recognises people want more flexibility, and activities in various community settings. It proposes personalised approaches and reflects that people need different levels of support at different times in their lives, which change over time. The model incorporates four tiers of support:
  • Preventative support: keeping people connected, active, and independent through ordinary community life, with minimal/no formal support.
  • Enablement support: Short, outcome focused, time limited support that helps people gain skills, confidence and connections.
  • Personalised support: ongoing, flexible, person-centred support for people with continuous needs, who need regular, structured input (often community based, sometimes building based).
  • Specialist support: High quality, specialist support for people with complex needs, including intensive, longer term or condition specific support.
• The proposed new approach reflects national guidelines from central Government such as the Transforming Care framework, and best practice identified by organisations including the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Care Quality Commission, Local Government Association, and Skills for Care.

Next steps

• Staff are continuing to discuss options and get further input from current users of existing day centre services.
• We are now seeking formal feedback from service users, their carers and families, and professionals working in this area.
• The consultation runs from Friday 24 April 2026 to Tuesday 2 June and can be completed on our website.
• Full details including the new Strategy, accessible versions, and opportunities to input are also online with the consultation survey.