We're inviting people who use day centres in Shropshire, their family members, carers, members of the public, professionals and our stakeholders to have their say on proposed changes to Shropshire Council’s in-house day services. These are services Shropshire Council runs and delivers.
We know that the services provided by the day centres are valued by local residents who access them, and by their carers and family members. They provide a social environment and aim to increase a person’s independence, reducing social isolation and ultimately reducing and delaying the need or future services. They also provide respite to carers. However, use of day centres has changed over recent years and this, coupled with funding pressures, means that Shropshire Council must, like all local authorities, work to review provision and ensure value for money.
In-house day service provision is something the council can choose to provide itself or meet needs through other services.
Following the declaration of a financial emergency by Shropshire Council in September 2025, it's been essential to reassess all services, including statutory and discretionary services to manage costs and ensure that services are designed in a way that best balances costs and benefits.
In Shropshire there are approximately 439 people accessing day centres across 29 facilities that offer support to people with a learning disability. 178 of those people access in-house day services. There are eight in-house day centres and one voluntary service:
We'd like to modernise the service offer by delivering more flexible, person-centred support. Alongside traditional day care and day activities, individuals should have clear pathways to access employment, supported employment, and volunteering opportunities. A future model should recognise that while some individuals will always require structured day care, others can benefit from supported or independent work, and the service may be redesigned to provide a tiered approach that matches support to individual capabilities and aspirations. Our Enable service may form an opportunity to enhance outcomes for people with additional needs, supporting them to achieve greater independence, social inclusion, and wellbeing.
This consultation proposes to deliver better value within the in-house day services. The proposals to achieve this are:
The proposals above are based on detailed analysis and the aim of making the council’s in-house day centres more sustainable and suitable for the longer-term needs of adults with learning disabilities and older people.
Helena Lane Day Centre and Aquamira Day Centre in their current forms have high operational costs, and reduced demand. Helena Lane operates at a loss, while the costs of maintaining the hydrotherapy pool at Aquamira aren't offering value for money. The proposed changes would deliver an approximate saving of £222,380 per year. The benchmark value of comparable day centre services to Aquamira is £170 per person per day, and approximately £50 a day for Helena Lane. The average costs per person per day in Aquamira is currently £211, and at Helena Lane £244 per person per day.
The rationale for selecting the two day centres outlined above extends beyond the financial costs of these services and potential savings. The proposals are designed to reduce impact on as many people as possible. 23 people would be directly affected by the two proposals.
Use of Helena Lane in Ludlow, has fallen to eight attendees only. Other more local services are available within the community. Examples include a range of voluntary and community sector provision such as Hands Together Ludlow (befriending, community lunches, individual support, walking group and Men’s Shed), Working Together Ludlow (support to individuals with learning difficulties and learning disabilities), Ludlow Assembly Rooms (wellbeing, arts and cultural activities) and more. Those using Aquamira would be impacted, but being located in Shrewsbury there are other day centres and services available in close vicinity (including the proposal to transfer the service to a new location at Abbots Wood Day Centre (the hydrotherapy pool can't be moved)).
Any service changes and reductions are difficult, and public feedback is now required to aid decision making by councillors. No decisions have yet been made. An equalities, social inclusion and health impact assessments (ESHIA) has been completed and is attached to this consultation webpage, and will be reviewed again following public consultation. It's recognised that any service change will require transition planning and proactive engagement to safeguard continuity of care and support for any affected individuals.
This work will ensure a comprehensive review of in-house day services to enable the council to assess quality, efficiency, and alignment with our future direction, ensuring that future provision is both effective and affordable.
Shropshire Council will write to all users of the day centres affected by the consultations. We also encourage wider feedback through the consultation survey available here...
If you’d like the survey in an alternative format, please use the email below to request a copy, or call our customer services team on 0345 678 9000 and explain any support you need to allow you to respond.
The consultation will run for eight weeks and close on 26 March 2026.
A: The number of people attending these day centres has reduced during recent years and not all the centres are being used as well as they could be. The money spent on keeping the centres running, including significant buildings and facilities costs doesn’t seem to be delivering value for money. Resources could be spent differently to modernise the service offer and focus on delivering progression and better outcomes for individuals.
A. If a decision is made to close day centres. We'll work with the 23 people affected by the proposals to develop a transition plan so that they can access support from another day centre in Shropshire or from other groups and services within their local area.
A: Partly. We do need to save money, but this isn’t the only reason. Use of day centres has reduced, and demand has changed over time, especially since the pandemic. People want to be able to choose the activities and support they access in their community. They also need more support to be independent, such as accessing employment and volunteering opportunities. 7
As a council we need to make sure that we run our services as efficiently as possible. The review we've undertaken so far has shown that Aquamira and Helena Lane are costing more than they should be to run. For example, the hydrotherapy pool at Aquamira isn’t a statutory service that the council has to provide, but it's very expensive to run.
A: It depends where you live. If you live in Shrewsbury and use Aquamira you may be able to access another day centre nearby (eg Abbots Wood). If you live in Ludlow and use Helena Lane you may need to travel further or use a different style of service. We'll work with people individually to support with transport arrangements, but this will depend on your choice of day centre, the availability of transport and also access to support such as direct payments. We can also consider independent travel training for people.
A: We're finding that some people are choosing to do different things rather than attend a day centre. We can work with you to look at other opportunities if this is what you want.
A: The staff team will be involved in considering these proposals. They will be consulted and able to give us their views to inform decision making. We'll be using their knowledge and expertise. Changes to some services may have an impact on some staff and we'll be keeping everyone fully updated as the plans are developed. The proposals don’t necessarily mean members of staff will find their job is at risk because we need experienced and skilled staff members, they may just need to work in a different location or role.
A: We'll gather everyone’s views together and consider how this affects the services we can offer in the future as part of the consultation. We must make recommendations based on these views, which will need the approval of the council’s cabinet in May 2026 before any final decisions are made.
A: We'll write to everyone directly affected by any decisions we make. We'll also ensure that social workers communicate with the people they support. You can also contact us if you have any questions. The letter will explain further, but please speak to staff at the day centre, your social worker or usual contact in Adult Social Care in the first instance. If you need further help you can contact us on 0345 678 9044.
A: If councillors agree the two service closures following the completion of the consultation process, you'll be supported to understand and consider the impact it may have on you. If you're affected, you'll be supported with a transition plan. We'll work closely with you and your family to provide the support you need to manage any change you experience.
A: Yes. Other councils have undertaken similar consultations on day centre closures and reductions in service provision. The impact of these changes is different everywhere, but overall fewer people are attending day centres across the country. Different ways of providing support for people have been developed since the Covid pandemic. For example, younger adults often say they want to do things differently, and are looking for different support in their local communities rather than from the traditional day centre model.
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