BEDFORD Hotel's function room was full to overflowing at the official launch of a Tavistock social club for people with learning difficulties last week.

Representatives of businesses, organisations and individuals in the town turned out to show their support and find out more about the Robert Owen Communities (ROC) Welcome Tavistock club — formerly the Gateway Club.

The organisation unveiled its new strap-line — Discovering Independence — and gave an insight into its plans, including getting more involved with the community, aiming to increase social inclusion for club members and trying to get them into paid employment among other things.

Chief executive of ROC David Wilson said the main point of the evening was to think about how to include people with learning difficulties in the community: 'The key message is to really think about the needs of people with learning difficulties and how they can really become part of our community.

'We wanted to establish a committee of club members so they can decide how the club moves forward, giving them choice, control and empowerment. The new strap-line aims to describe what ROC does — help to discover independence.'

West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox gave his support at the event. He said: 'In ROC there is something special — a group of people with real enthusiasm for what they are doing.

'That passion has probably been because of the foundation born of a group of parents who want to create a future for their children. I can relate to that, having a child on the autistic spectrum. We now have to take the club as our own and believe in it. Is there a worthier cause to help those with learning disabilities to feel part of our community?'

Calvin Lovelock, of ROC, said that with the right resources the club would expand the opportunities available to members: 'We would create a host of social opportunities, everything from snooker to soccer to citizenship, but we'd need facilitators to bring about these opportunities.

'We'd go on an awareness-raising road trip, wherever members wanted to go, and it would be about their stories but we would need sponsors and ambassadors to make it happen.

'Maybe we'd even go on a couple of mini-breaks but we would need sponsors and organisers — these things don't just happen naturally. We have had funding support from trusts and the council but increasingly we want to look to the community. The more we raise, the more opportunities we can offer.'

Calvin asked anyone who is planning any events to think about fundraising for ROC.

ROC took over the long established club in Tavistock around 20 months ago from Gateway and has since gradually been transferring ownership to club members.

At the launch event Tavistock Town Council presented the club with a donation of £750, which David Wilson said would be a great help.