We launched "Stairways" on September 16th as a response to the removal of Adult Education for people with learning difficulties, from Ivybridge to South Brent. We had only found out about this removal in July last year and so had to set to very quickly to find premises, arrange public liability insurance, draw up a constitution and bid for funding. We were determined to start up a new facility quickly so that potential members did not suffer from a break in service and, consequently, lose the benefit of the progress they had made. Currently, we meet on one morning each week but we hope to offer more sessions in the near future.
We are a voluntary organisation and we are gathering a wide variety of resources. We offer reading, writing, outings, drama skills, cookery, music, art and crafts and other general life skills. At the moment, we are enjoying special tennis sessions at the local club.
These are early days and we have a lot of plans in place. In due course, we hope to find more permanent, affordable premises with storage so that we can improve access to the materials we have collected and offer more weekly sessions. At present, we push our materials to and fro in two of Whitfield's best shopping trolleys!
Our stated aim is "to improve and extend confidence and abilities in literacy, numeracy, IT skills and physical fitness; and to widen [members'] sense of social participation, personal awareness and appreciation of the world around them".
The three founders of Stairways had worked in the Basic Skills sector of the Adult Education department when it was based in Ivybridge. We are all qualified teachers and have appropriate police clearance. Members are admitted on a trial basis.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information.
My telephone number is 01752 691648.
My address is 17 Waterslade Drive, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 0FD.
Ann Laity
"Stairways"
- HOME - ABOUT US - VIEWS - DSS/DWP - SPORT - CHARITIES - MORTGAGE -
- DISABILITY AWARENESS - SEXUAL ISSUES - DYSLEXIA - JOKES - LINKS - SITEMAP -