About us

A place where friendships last.

Since 1984, Hope Lea has given adults with learning disabilities somewhere safe, friendly and full of life to spend their days.

Our story

Hope Lea, Hucknall

Hucknall Hope Lea Project is a registered charity that runs a Day Service at 150 Watnall Road and a Supported Living service further along the same road.

The people who come to our Day Service all have mild to medium learning disabilities. We’re open from Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 4.00pm, fifty weeks of the year.

Hope Lea opened in 1984, and one of the people we support has been with us since that very first year. Turnover of the people we support is very low – many have attended for 20 or 30 years – which has let them build true and meaningful friendships with each other.

The front of Hope Lea at 150 Watnall Road, a red-brick house with a white front door and small plaques beside it.
Hope Lea, 150 Watnall Road
Our aim

To provide a safe, supportive, inclusive and enriching environment where adults attending the Day Centre are treated with dignity, respect and compassion – promoting independence, wellbeing, personal choice and meaningful engagement in all aspects of daily life.

What we stand for

The values behind everything we do

Dignity & respect

Every person is valued, listened to and treated as the individual they are.

Compassion

We care about the people we support – and about each other.

Independence

Helping people do more for themselves and feel proud of what they achieve.

Wellbeing

A calm, friendly place that looks after the whole person, every day.

Personal choice

People choose how they spend their time, and what they’d like to try.

Meaningful engagement

Activities and friendships that give each day a purpose.

Friendship & belonging

For many, Hope Lea is their whole social world

For most of the people who come to us, Hope Lea is the only place they go outside of home. Without it, they would be quite isolated.

So we work hard to make sure everyone feels part of their community: church coffee mornings, Summer Fayres, Torkard Ensemble’s lunchtime recitals, and games of boules with the Hucknall Boules Club.

Our staff team is just as settled. There is a low turnover of staff, too – Hope Lea is such a unique place to work that everyone tends to feel a real sense of commitment to the project.

Four friends smiling around a table in a room with rainbow bunting and shelves of games.
A woman sitting at a table with piles of coins sorted onto labelled cards, practising counting money.
Practising everyday skills – counting coins
Learning & achievement

Learning new things, and being proud of it

Alongside baking, arts & crafts, card making, games and music quizzes, we welcome visitors who bring something new. Rise visit to provide seated exercise sessions, and tutors from West Notts College teach a variety of subjects.

The people we support really enjoy it – especially because they receive a certificate at the end, which gives them a real sense of achievement.

Our services

Two services, one caring project

Day Service

Based at 150 Watnall Road, our Day Service is open Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 4.00pm, fifty weeks a year. It’s a place to enjoy activities, learn, make friends and be part of the wider community.

Ask about the Day Service

Supported Living

Our Supported Living service is based a little further up Watnall Road, close to the Day Service. Get in touch and we’ll be happy to tell you more.

Ask about Supported Living
Events & fundraising

Fundraising, made by the people we support

Hope Lea holds its own events through the year, including a Summer Fayre, a Bonfire Night event and a Christmas event. The people we support really look forward to them.

They make things for us to sell, which gives them a real sense of pride: they’ve contributed directly to our fundraising. If you’d like to come along, help out or support us, please get in touch.

Come and say hello

We’d love to tell you more about life at Hope Lea and answer any questions you have.