The Nesbitt Centre
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The Nesbitt Centre is a Hong Kong charity that provides an English-speaking educational programme for adults with learning disabilities - also a respite and residential facility, which helps to achieve independence and development of their own potential and opportunities within the community.
The centre enables adults with special needs the opportunity to maximize their life potential. Individuals are guided, supported and encouraged to:
• take responsibility in the planning and management of their life activities,
• participate in a wide range of work, life, recreation and creative skill building programmes,
• access resources within the community, and
• achieve confidence and independence through supported work and residency opportunities
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[edit] Residential Programme
In 2003, the centre established a residential apartment in Discovery Bay that offered service users the opportunity to experience independent living and develop, as well as to further their learning and develop a lifestyle that reflects a valued and integrated adult life, all with a staff member on hand. This enables the centre to carry out its commitment in promoting independence for our service users.
In 2006 a new phase in the residential programme began with the opening of two new apartments in Chai Wan.
Since 2003, the Nesbitt Centre has also provided a respite service where service users are given the opportunity to spend a night away from home, giving them the opportunity to experience an environment where they can be self-reliant through making a variety of life choices.
[edit] History
The Hong Kong Vocational Centre was established in 1993 by David Nesbitt when he found that Hong Kong had no English-speaking service for adults with intellectual disabilities.
He obtained a grant from the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped to set up an initial service. In June 1993, he obtained support and a commitment to ongoing funding from the Social Welfare Department.
The service has evolved and expanded, and in 2007 was renamed The Nesbitt Centre, in honour of David and his wife Wendy, the founders.
[edit] Location
In the summer of 2001, the Nesbitt Centre moved to its first permanent premises in Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, as part of the Social Welfare Department’s community complex, close to shops, offices, libraries and other local facilities.
