Expanded activities and food bank plan for Thanet’s It’s Your Choice service for adults with additional needs

October 17, 2025 Kathy Bailes News 0

itsyc — It's Your Choice members enjoying their new home at Pie Factory Music

It’s Your Choice activity service for adults with mental-health issues and physical and/or learning disabilities has expanded it services to two sessions a week and hopes to open a food bank.

The service, which opened at the beginning of 2024, was set up by Gary and Dan Burgess, plus partners Kate Raines, Jodie Polidano and family members Steve and Michele Burgess, to provide a place for affordable and accessible activities ranging from bingo to sport and karaoke and arts and crafts.

From an initial membership of around five people, it has now grown to 40 people per session.

Sessions have also been doubled to twice a week with further expansion planned.

Dan, who is also manager at a supported living premises, says It’s Your Choice has also recently become a Community Interest Company (CIC).

As well as opening for sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays, 10am to 2pm, there are plans to open a food bank which will be staffed by the group’s members.

Dan said: “We are working with FareShare and hoping to collect food from (supermarkets) and set up our own food bank. Our disabled adults will be giving back to the community which will be fantastic.”

Activities have also been increased with everything from martial arts, circus skills, skateboarding, boxing, yoga, belly dancing, and a variety of multi sports.

The team is working with Inclusive Sports, CMK (Community Corporate, Housing Social Impact), T50 boxing, Skorcha skate school, Thanet Martial Arts Centre and with funding from Mencap. CMK is also providing funds so that activity sessions are free.

Dan said: “It’s fantastic to do some right out there activities that many have never tried before. We have also had visits from Spiderman, Batman and Storm Troopers thanks to a local man and everyone loved that.

“We are now running two days but are hoping to expand because we are at capacity. We normally have a walk-in service but have had to start booking people in.”