Adur Learning Exchange How you can learn, enjoy or help!

Learners and volunteers needed by Adur Learning Exchange

Contact: Pam Simons telephone/fax on 01273 441571 or email ale@impact-initiatives.org.uk

If you have not come across them here are just some of the activities Adur Learning Exchange provide:

1. Educational Minibus Outings

Organised outings throughout the year (except high summer in August). Transport is provided from home and back and there are volunteers on hand to give support throughout. Outings are arranged to places with historical, cultural and environmental interest. Occasionally there are outings that include a pub or café lunch. Outings are priced between £5.00 - £8.00.

For more details please contact Pam Simons 01273 441571 or ale@impact-initiatives.org.uk

2. Educational Groups

Groups meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly at residential homes, sheltered housing schemes and other accessible community venues. Examples in our patch have included

• Lip reading, practice the basic skills of lip reading in a small friendly group at Chesham House in South Street, Lancing on Fridays 2.00 to 3.30pm in term time
• Gentle exercise to improve fitness with chair based exercise to music at Burchell Court, Shadwells Road, Lancing on Thursdays 10.30 to 11.30 weekly on Thursdays
• Singing for Fun and Fitness at Burchell Court, Shadwells Road, Lancing fortnightly on Wednesdays from 11.30 am to 12.30
• Tai Chi standing exercises for balance and strength at Lancing Health Centre, Penstone Park in Lancing weekly on Fridays 3.30 to 4.30pm
• Gentle Exercise chair based exercise to music held in a residential home but people who live outside may be allowed to join in at The Bell Memorial Home, 164 South Street, Lancing on Wednesday from 3.30 to 4.30 pm fortnightly

Courses are charged at £2.50 per session For more details please contact Pam Simons 01273 441571 or ale@impact-initiatives.org.uk

3. Housebound Learners Course

The Housebound Learners courses are an ideal way for housebound and semi housebound people to participate in learning. Learners are matched with a suitable volunteer partner who will attend the course and then visit you at home each week to relay the information. Volunteers can also take student partners to and from the course.

Courses last eight weeks and cover a variety of subjects such as

• Nature

• History

• Landscape of Sussex

• Shoreham in the 40’s

• Current Affairs

• Music

Courses are charged at £3.00 per session. For more details please contact Pam Simons 01273 441571 or ale@impact-initiatives.org.uk

Breathing Space gives carers a break by linking volunteers and older people with similar interests or hobbies. Many older people are supported to live at home by informal carers such as friends or family. Breathing Space provides a way of giving these carers a break. Many older people want to continue with their hobbies or interests but need help to do so.

Volunteers are matched with an older person and then both are able to pursue a hobby or interest together. This could be anything at all, for example:

• Transport to a club
• Going to the cinema
• Playing board or computer games at home
• Watching films at home
• Going for a drive in the country
• Study a subject such as astronomy, local history or bird watching

For more details please contact Pam Simons 01273 441571 or ale@impact-initiatives.org.uk

In association with West Sussex Count Library service at Shoreham by Sea there is also a book club. One of their staff takes a small group who study a particular title and explore the writer and the writing. Transport is provided.

For more details please contact Pam Simons 01273 441571 or ale@impact-initiatives.org.uk

Volunteers always needed at Adur Learning Exchange

Helping someone always makes people feel better themselves as well as the person being helped. You might have some spare time on your hands that you want to use to help someone else. You might have a particular interest or hobby that you would like to share with others. You might enjoy escorting people on trips, driving people who otherwise cannot get out to a course, or relaying the information you have learned to someone at home.

All volunteers are interviewed, have to provide references and undergo a police Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Training will be given where needed. Throughout the learner/volunteer partnership Adult Learning Exchange staff will keep in contact to ensure that the arrangements are working well.

Volunteers also have their expenses paid.

For more details please contact Pam Simons 01273 441571 or ale@impact-initiatives.org.uk