Fire Extinguisher Training

The staff team at DFSC have all just completed a fire extinguisher training course. We started with a classroom based session looking at the theory of fire and familiarisation with various extinguishers.

We then went outside and all had a go at putting out fire with CO2 Extinguishers and a Foam Extinguisher. The photos show one of our cooks, Denise, in action.

High Challenge Course (HCC) Maintenance

Construction of our £100K High Challenge Course (HCC) began in Jan 2007. Since then thousands of people of all ages have enjoyed the challenges and teamwork it provides at all times of year and in all weathers.

The weather does however have an affect on outdoor equipment and as well as visual checks each day of use, the HCC gets a rigorous 6 monthly comprehensive check. This year we have decided to replace some cabling that is within its life expectancy of a very conservative 5 years, as it is showing surface rust. Matthew, the HCC's constructor, has been taking out these wire cables and replacing them with new ones. We will then get our new safety certificate and be looking forward to providing high challenges for lots more young people and adults in 2011.

First Floor Showers

In the past the showers on the first floor were , shall we say, a bit dribbly! We responded to this feedback from students and visiting staff and last year invested £10K to up-grade the water supply by fitting a new dedicated cold feed that comes directly from the mains and feeds two new large immersion tanks that deliver pressurised hot water to the showers. The jet of water is at least three times the power of before and the tanks are more than 4x's the capacity of the old ones.

Above: new mains pipe to tanks.

Below: Large Mega-Flow tanks x2

What we are now doing is ripping out the actual shower cubicles and putting brand new cubicles in with new flooring and drainage. Another investment of £10K+ to ensure our residential guests are comfortable and enjoy a hot shower when they get back soaking wet from canoeing etc.



The Centre staff are busy painting etc.

This week we don't have a group residential with us until the weekend. A rare luxury and an opportunity to get some painting done. Karen, Denise and other Karen have been busy painting the 3rd floor corridor and rooms. Once they have finished the entire Centre will have been painted from top to bottom in the last year.

 Meanwhile Andy, our caretaker, has been making some finishing touches to the New Tuck Shop



New Tuck Shop

Another exciting development at DFSC is our New Tuck Shop! We've moved the New Shop into the old Linen Store off the Lounge. It is about four times the size and allows the students to actually come into the shop and see the items for sale rather than peer through a hatch. The increased space has alowed us to put in a fridge to keep drinks chilled which will be very welcome especially in the summer. We will also be increasing our product range of souvenirs and gifts in the future. It is thanks to Debbie's vision and Andy's skills with an allen key and flat pack furniture that we now have this much improved and enlarged Tuck Shop.

And what has happened to the old Tuck Shop room/cupboard. Well it now stores excess linen etc.:

New Toilets for Boys Shower Room

On the subject of building work - not all our regular schools have seen the new dowstairs toilets we have installed in the Boys Shower Room. These were put in in 2010 and have made things a lot more convenient. 2 urinals and a pan.

Disabled Access Building Work

We are presently converting a downstairs room at the Centre to become accommodation for disabled users. There will beds for two wheelchair users plus a friend and accommodation next door for a carer/teacher. Both rooms have direct access to an en suite bathroom with accessible toilet, shower and handbasin etc. There is a fire exit directly out of the disabled bedroom. Work should be completed in the next couple of weeks and we look forward to being able to welcome our first disabled visitor to the new accommodation.

The disabled accessable bedroom being converted

Work to convert other parts of the Centre has already been completed with ramps built and a new lift installed for access to the common room.