Day Centres for adults with learning disabilities across Bedfordshire
Nouvita’s Day Centres for adults with learning disabilities provide safe, welcoming and engaging environments where people can build confidence, develop independence and enjoy meaningful, fulfilling days.
With three day centres across Bedfordshire, Ashdowne, The Burys and Saddlers Farm, are designed for adults with learning disabilities and autism, including those with more complex needs. Whether attending through local authority funding or privately arranged placements, each person is supported in a way that reflects who they are, what they enjoy, and what they want to achieve.
Whether visits are to provide a level of care and activities which cannot so easily be provided at home, are to provide respite for families where balancing work and daily life can be too much, or is to provide a greater social experience where fun and progress go hand-in-hand, in a safe and supportive environment, Nouvita’s Learning Disability Day Centres are here to help.
Ashdowne in Luton
A homely learning disability Day Centre for adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex behaviours that challenge.
The Burys in Kempston
A purpose-built single storey day centre for adults with wide ranging learning disabilities, autism and co-modalities with wheelchair access.
Saddlers Farm in Sharnbrook
A learning disabilities day centre farm with animals, gardens and fields where outdoor activities with the land and animals take centre stage.
A personalised and supportive approach
We take the time to understand each individual; their strengths, preferences and goals, and shape support around them. Every person benefits from a tailored support plan, developed in partnership with families, carers and professionals, ensuring care is both consistent and meaningful.
Our teams create a calm, structured environment where people feel comfortable and valued. For those who prefer quieter spaces, opportunities for relaxation and sensory support are available, alongside more social and active sessions. This balance helps individuals feel at ease while building confidence at their own pace.
Building skills, confidence and independence
Our day centres focus on developing everyday life skills, social interaction and personal growth. Through a wide range of activities, individuals are supported to explore interests, try new experiences and gain a sense of achievement.
Activities are shaped around individual choice and may include creative sessions, cooking, gardening, physical wellbeing, community outings and opportunities to develop practical life skills. These experiences are designed not only to be enjoyable, but to support independence, communication and overall wellbeing.
Where appropriate, we also support individuals to engage with their local communities, helping to build confidence, reduce isolation and create meaningful connections beyond the service.
Safe, high-quality environments
Across Ashdowne, The Burys and Saddlers Farm, our centres are designed to be safe, accessible and inclusive. Our trained teams provide the right level of support for each individual, including those requiring higher levels of care.
We work closely with health and social care professionals to ensure that all needs are met — from daily living support through to more complex clinical or behavioural requirements. This joined-up approach helps ensure continuity, safety and positive outcomes for those attending our services.
Supporting families and local authorities
We understand that choosing the right day centre is an important decision. For families, our services provide reassurance that loved ones are supported, engaged and cared for in a respectful and nurturing environment. For commissioners and local authorities, we offer reliable, high-quality provision that supports positive outcomes and long-term independence.
Our day centres also provide valuable structure and routine, while offering families and carers the opportunity for respite and balance.
Familiarity and professional relationships and rapport with carers is key, and we’re proud that the majority of people working at our Day Centres have been there for many years – in some cases 10 to 20 years. Many of our carers are as a familiar and trusted face as many other people in their lives.
Day Centre funding options
The majority of people who use our day centres are funded by local authorities, where the cost of their day placements is paid for by the local authority. Due to the locations of our day centres, this tends to be from either Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council or Luton Borough Council. Please contact these councils directly to discuss funding with them. You can have your say on which day centre you would like to use, so mention Ashdowne, The Bury’s or Saddlers Farm when securing your placement funding.
Some service users are self-funded by their families, which provides the flexibility for your loved ones to use the service whether funding is available or not. This could be mixed, where funding might only cover half days, or a few days a week, and where additional time at the day centre is needed (perhaps to cover time at work or other commitments), or where funding isn’t available but time spent at the day centre is still needed.
For those looking to self-fund placements, we’ve made it as easy as possible to do so. Simply click the button below and complete the placement enquiry form. A full assessment then needs to take place over the phone with you. If required, a ‘taster’ session might be arranged, where you can be present for their first time in the service, to ensure they are happy and the environment is right for them.
A meaningful day, every day
At Nouvita, we believe that day services should be more than just support; they should be enriching, empowering and enjoyable. Across Ashdowne, The Burys and Saddlers Farm, we are proud to provide environments where people can feel part of something, build relationships and continue to grow.
Our learning disability day centres are homely environments, with creative freedom to express themselves, have fun and learn within a supportive way which embraces who they are while allowing them to flourish. It’s more than just a safe space; its a space where they can be themselves, and learn new skills in an enjoyable way.
The majority of daily users have been coming to these day centres for years and years – in most cases decades, where their visits are a key part of their daily life, and where they feel they belong.
Transportation available
The majority of people using our day centres are dropped off and collected by their families, much like school or nursery. We can, however, also provide transportation to collect and return them to your home address as an extra service (additional costs apply).
Factors such as location, travel time and proximity to other collections may impact our ability to collect/return on certain days or at certain times, however this will always be fully communicated well ahead of time so that you are fully aware of when we can accommodate your transportation needs.
If you are interested in using our transportation service for your loved one’s daily visits, please speak to staff or select the option when completing the placement form.