Victoria Centre goes to infinity and beyond!

'It's not what you do, it's why you do it.'

Nicola Deaville has been helping adults with learning difficulties since 1989. Now based at Victoria Centre she still absolutely loves what she does.

“I love it. Supporting people to go and do things they need to do - they are completely free to choose and do.”

The Victoria Centre is in Whitefield just off the M60 near Besses’ o’ th’ Barn. Here, Nicola and the team work so that people they support can do what they want, whether that's swim, go to college, or get trained up at Bleakholts Animal Sanctuary to walk the dogs. 

One day, Kevin heard from Nicola that from the top of Holcombe Hill you could see the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jodrell Bank. Excited, They set off together up the hill only to be met with clouds, so back at base, Nicola showed Kevin Jodrell Bank on the internet and the following week, Faye took Kevin and a few other interested people who also go to Victoria to see Jodrell Bank for real.

Smiles were wide and Kevin was so thankful for the experience. He brought back a postcard for Nicola which is now proudly displayed in her office.

In her 30 years working with adult with learning difficulties, Nicola doesn’t have one defining memory, but many. “It’s the smiles. When people laugh about what they have done and remember the week after what they did, and every so often still remind me 'do you remember when…' That’s it! That’s the best moment. Because it obviously means something to them if they have remembered it.”