TACT East has branches in Cambridge, Norfolk and Southend-on-Sea. We provide a unique, diverse and individual service to the people we support, ensuring that they lead fulfilled and integrated lives as part of their local communities.

Mark's story

Mark was a secure unit patient before TACT began to support him in 2005. He now lives in his own house and requires only daily visits.

"I was in a secure unit and only able to visit the outside world when two staff could take me. I was very nervous of all shouting and other noises so I attended arts and crafts or the sports hall when everything was quiet. One day I had a visit from Simon who I knew when I was in another secure unit, and he told me that I would soon be leaving the secure unit and moving into my own house.

"I moved into my new home in Brundall, Norwich. I have my own bank account, I make up my own shopping list buy it and put all the groceries away in the cupboards, I go to fast food restaurants and it's great. I also go to snooker each week I'm known as Mark 'The Fluke'. I have my own car and virtually go where I want I check the engine and put the petrol in as well and now pay for it myself in the garage.

"I do have to make choices but I have so much more information now to make that choice because people, my support workers, talk to me and explain my options so it's a lot easier to make choices. There is no way I want to go back to a secure unit and with TACT I never will."

Services

In Cambridgeshire TACT supports individuals to live independently. In addition, we offer short term placements to individuals who require a period of stability and to acquire new skills, before moving on to more individualised, community-based placements. We also support individuals through our Outreach Service; the 'ideal' is to ensure people are offered just enough support, becoming valued members of their communities.

There are seven projects in Norfolk, supporting a total of thirteen individuals. TACT aims to give our members peace of mind by helping them with accommodation, activities and support. Our Opportunities team enables the people we support to gain independent living skills, access local amenities and attend adult education, as well as the 'fun stuff' - restaurants, theme parks, nature reserves, live music, horse riding, local clubs and groups, holidays: the list is almost endless.

In Southend-on-Sea TACT accommodates members with a wide range of disabilities, and currently offers 10 places within various services. We are also working on 'The Transition House' in partnership with the local council. The project serves as a stepping stone into the community for Southend-on-Sea funded individuals moving back to the town. The house provides short term accommodation whilst we find suitable accommodation and assess the individual's needs for a successful transition.

In the future, we plan to set up social businesses to provide work experience and employment opportunities, and to generate finance to further empower the people we support.

Divisional Director for TACT East: Kerry Harris

TACT East
South Fens Business Centre
Fenton Way
Chatteris
Cambridgeshire
PE16 6TT

TELEPHONE 01354 696 009
FAX 01354 697 757
EMAIL tactcambs@tactltd.org