Is Your Calendar Up To Date!?

Things are changing…did you know?

The LEAF Project will be changing but don’t worry, not all change is bad!

There will no longer be a Project Coordinator assigned to The LEAF Project but that doesn’t mean that great opportunities will not be shared with people with a learning disability living in Merseyside.

The bulk of this site will be closing down but something that we will NOT be losing is the Events Calendar. This will continue to be updated regularly and fill with all the fabulous things available to you in your local community.

If you want to add anything to the calendar just leave a comment on the page and watch your event or opportunity appear in the calendar over the coming days

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of the LEAF Project and I hope the great work continues to develop from here onwards. Any future posts will be by Christine Magill (details on the Events Calendar Page) from Alternative Futures Group and will no longer be managed by Hailey Wood.

Is It Too Early To Think About Christmas?!

For the November Disco, we are going BIG!

As Christmas will only be around the corner and it will be our last get together before the Festive break, we are having a Tux and Tiara’s Ball in Bootle

There will be a red carpet, awards to be won (and you can have a say on the nominations), a raffle and disco and if that’s not enough…there will be a two course meal included!

Tickets for people supported including the meal will be £10
Tickets for staff to have the meal will be £10 (this is optional but who doesn’t want to dress up and have a two course meal?!)

All ticket prices include free entry into the raffle but you can buy more on the night if you like the prizes!

The meal will be a carvery with three meats to chose from or a pie (there is a vegetarian option too!) followed by a dessert of Fudge Cake, Apple Pie or Ice Cream – the choice is yours!

Please get in touch with Hailey (hailey.wood@mencapliverpool.org.uk) to book your tickets and make your menu choices. It will be a formal event so drag those glad rags from the back of the wardrobe!

It would be great for everyone to let their hair down so staff are encouraged to buy a ticket, get involved and really enjoy the evening!

All tickets must be ordered by Friday 17th October. Book early to ensure you and your staff can attend!

 

Help Us Reach 200?

The LEAF Project offers free Learning Disability Awareness Training to organisations across Liverpool and Knowsley

 

This training was written to make the community more accessible for people with a learning disability and is delivered to any organisation looking to work with people with a learning disability, who already support people or would just like to learn more about learning disability.

Since the training became available in October, a total of…

177 people

have been trained from…

18 different organisations

But, the LEAF Project wants to reach…

200 people!

Can you help?

 

If you would like to receive free learning disability awareness training, or learn more about some of the additional modules you can access then contact Hailey for a flyer of information – hailey.wood@mencapliverpiil.org.uk or 07914716322

 

July Update!

Merseyside is a very busy place with lots and lots going on for people with a learning disability!

 

Active Me

Active Me are now offering additional sports sessions throughout the week. The same sessions at the Lifestyles Gyms will continue but there are now swimming, dance and football sessions available in Garston, Ellergreen and Walton Hall.

If anyone would like to join the groups, please contact Hailey for individual contact numbers – 07914716322

 

Your Direction

Your Direction are increasing their socials. They are now offering sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Knotty Ash.
The socials now include gaming, arts & crafts, bingo, dancing, music & singing and ‘make & eat’. If anyone would like to try the new socials contact 0151 203 5758

 

People First Merseyside

People First are holding a Charity Dinner Dance on Friday 24th October, 7pm at the Adelphi Hotel. Tickets are £35 each which includes a Bucks Fizz Reception, three course meal and half a bottle of wine. Contact People First to book a place – hurry they’re limited!
Call 0151 707 6751 or email helenf@peoplefirst.uk.com

 

Giant Spectacular

The Giants are back in Liverpool! From Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th July Liverpool will come to life with the giants from the First World War.
You can see the young girl and her granny around Liverpool over the 5 days. The full story has been released and you can find it here…GiantSpectacular
Don’t miss out!

 

Healthiness Ltd – Over 50s Summer Sports Day!

For those of you who came to the Family of Friends Event you will have met the fabulous Healthiness. Well, they are holding a brilliant Summer Sports Day in Sefton Park on Monday 11th August 12pm – 4pm for the over 50s.
There will be lots of activities and games on the day to test different strengths and skills. It is free to attend but you need to register first with Healthiness – 0151 723 8874
Happy Sports Day!

If you would like any more information about any of the activities get in touch with Hailey on 07914716322 or hailey.wood@mencapliverpool.org.uk

Family of Friends #LDWeek14

Celebrating Learning Disability Week with the LEAF Project!

Monday 16th June saw the LEAF Project hold a celebratory event for National Learning Disability in Lion Court and what a celebration it was!

Lots of people supported by Mencap Liverpool and Alternative Futures Group came along to enjoy the activities and try something new to mark a great year for the LEAF Project and the empowerment of people with a learning disability.

We kicked the morning off with some chair based exercise. Healthiness Ltd. came along to show us how we could be active and healthy from the comfort of our chairs. We got our heart rates pumping and enjoyed the great music – did you know if you sing whilst you exercise you burn twice as many calories?! Well, we didn’t need telling twice, we sang along as loud as we could to the great music whilst working our legs, arms and waist. Summer bodies, here we come!!

 

Once our muscles were warm and worked, HappyTimes Activities came to treat out senses with their sensory hour. HappyTimes got us cheerful and upbeat with some gentle movement to some great songs. We even got to test out concentration passing balls around the circle to different tempos of music – James Bond was the slowest and most appreciated by us all! We also got the large octopuses out and made them move in really creative ways.

After all that excitement, HappyTimes got their sensory boxes and we got to enjoy different lights, sounds and textures. There were feathers, sparkling lights, glasses, balls of all different textures, jumping frogs and bubbles. One cool dude particularly liked the glasses…

After lunch and chance to look at the boards on display showing what the LEAF Project has been up to this year, there was arts and crafts to enjoy. As the nice weather has finally arrived and to try and mix in ‘LEAF’ with arts and crafts, the activity was to ‘Sow a Seed’. We all decorated our own plant pot and then got stuck in filling them with soil and seeds – let’s see what grows this summer!

To round off a great day, Smile Productions came for half an hour of relaxation. For those of us that wanted to, we got to lie on the floor and relax to sounds of waves and calm – a think a couple of us may have fell asleep for a minute or two! Everyone went away feeling calm and relaxed with their plants and cakes in tow

If you don’t believe us that it was a great day, here’s what Team Leader Grace had to say about the event…

“The day was a huge success. All of the people I support have said how much they enjoyed the day and will take advantage of the forthcoming events that are on offer. It was amazing to see how everyone was totally engaged and having fun. There were family members whom came to the day and the feed back from them was fantastic. They were thrilled on how their son embraced the day and how he engaged in all the activities – they where full of praise.”

 

Thank you to everyone that came along and celebrated the start of Learning Disability Week 2014 and The LEAF Project successes to date.

The LEAF Project can’t wait to see you all the next one!      

Busy June

June is a busy month for activities happening across Liverpool and Knowsley…are you going to make time for all of them?!

Kicking the month off we have the ‘Stars in their Eyes’ event being held by AFG Liverpool.

The night will be full of singing and dancing and people are welcome to get up and have a go at performing their favourite song.

It is only £5 per ticket and there will be a ‘bring a plate’ buffet. If you want to join in, you will need to be at St. Paschal Baylon Function Room, Chelwood Avenue for 7.30pm on Friday 6th June. You will need to book a ticket so speak to Ann Marie – annmarie.saltmarsh@alternativefuturesgroup.org.uk

 

Monday 16th June is the start of Learning Disability Week and the LEAF Project is celebrating!

Over the last 12 months, the LEAF Project has been working with adults with a learning disability to enable them to access meaningful activity within their community. The community links surrounding Alternative Futures Group and Mencap Liverpool has grown and grown meaning more people can access more of what they want in their local community. So, it is only fitting that the LEAF Project celebrates this year’s National Learning Disability Week!

The theme for this year’s National Learning Disability Week is ‘Celebrating Families’ and for many that have been involved in the LEAF Project or have had more opportunities to access their communities in the past 12 months – the informal network of support they have built is definitely worth celebrating…it is their new Family of Friends.

So, the LEAF Project would like to invite you along to the Family of Friends event in Lion Court on Monday 16^th June, 10.30am – 3.30pm.

You can be involved in a chair based exercise class to see how you can get some gentle exercise without leaving the comfort of a chair! Or you may want to be part of the sensory hour where you can relax to music and excite your senses with lights and textures. There will also be arts and crafts, delicious cakes, a chance to ‘sew a seed’ (and spend the summer watching it grow!) and the opportunity to hear about what people supported have been up to as part of the LEAF Project.

The LEAF Project would love to see you come along and celebrate the new Family of Friends AFG has developed by being part of the LEAF Project.

 

A trip to the Museum of Liverpool to celebrate Learning Disability Week

The Museum of Liverpool is hosting a brand new exhibition that explores how people with learning difficulties have been excluded from history.

Mencap Liverpool and Alternative Futures Group are coming together to run a social trip to the Museum to see the exhibition on Wednesday 18th June. We will all be meeting at the Museum at 11am and going round as a group before enjoying lunch. There is a cafe at the museum but please feel encouraged to bring a packed lunch so we can sit together.

 

Last but not least, there is the Mencap Liverpool Walk With ME fundraiser!

Get your walking shoes on and join Mencap Liverpool this June to raise funds and awareness of their cause during National Learning Disability Week with a family fun 5k sponsored walk!

The walk is for families, individuals, all ages and abilities, and for anyone who wants to join Mencap Liverpool to make sure the city knows all about them and celebrates those with a learning disability in Liverpool.

The walk is on Saturday 21st June at 11am for a relaxed 5k walk. The meeting point and start of the walk is by the Arena and Convention Centre (waterfront side) and the route goes along the waterfront to Otterspool Park.

It is £5 to enter and Mencap Liverpool would love it if you could raise sponsorship money too! Try to aim for £30

There is a fun fancy dress theme (only if you want to!), a medal for taking part and lots of fun and energy to keep you going along the way

If you would like to take part, Mencap Liverpool can send you the sponsor forms, the theme for the day and lots more details just contact fundraising@mencapliverpool.org.uk or call 0151 707 8582

 

Happy June and Learning Disability Week!

Billy’s Story

Billy is a gentleman living in Liverpool, supported by AFG Liverpool. Billy has been part of the LEAF Project since August 2013 when his Team Leader put in a referral form on his behalf. 

Hailey went out to meet Billy and learnt all about him and thought he was a fantastic gentleman! Billy was bored of sitting in and watching TV all the time and wanted to have the opportunity to go out and do some volunteering. He told Hailey about his love for gardening and being active outdoors and his interests in demolition! Billy was ready for a new challenge and was looking forward to getting out and about in his community.

Hailey started researching volunteering opportunities near to Billy and found a gardening volunteer job at Everton Nature Garden.

Hailey and Billy went along together on his first day to see if he liked the place and he did! He loved the space and all the work that could be done in the gardens and all the exciting things he would get to have a go at. We enjoyed a cup of tea with the lead volunteer and decided together that Billy would be volunteering once a week from then on!

Straight away Billy was thrown into all the activities he loved!

Billy cutting back the overgrown hedges

And…

Billy after a day of strimming! Can you tell?!

Billy is still a regular volunteer at Everton Nature Garden and is now looking for even more volunteering!

In addition, through the LEAF Project, Billy joined Mencap Liverpool’s Gentleman’s Club and goes out once a fortnight with a group of gentlemen with learning disabilities to activities such as pool, bowling and going to the pub! Recently Billy has also joined a walking group and breakfast club! You could say that Billy doesn’t have as much time to sit around and watch TV these days!

Thank you to Billy for sharing his pictures and experiences

NEW – Social Groups in Liverpool

There are some new and exciting groups beginning around Liverpool for adults with a learning disability.

You will find information on four new social groups happening around Liverpool on both this post and the Events Calendar so…

Liverpool Links

Liverpool Links is a branch of Creative Support and they offer a drop – in centre for adults over the age of 18 with learning disabilities, mental health or other needs. The centre had a wide range of facilities and runs weekly activities.

If you want to be involved in any of the great activities you need to go along and meet Liverpool Links (which is at 181 – 185 London Road) and fill in a simple referral form. You are then a member and there is no cost to this! Once you are a member you can access the following great activities…

Mondays – Arts and Crafts 2pm – 4pm for £1.50 per session          The theme of the sessions change on a weekly basis so that you can develop new skills and learn more about different art forms (booking is essential)

Wednesday – Cooking Session 11am – 1pm for £3.50 per session          The cookery sessions run in blocks of six weeks and each week you can learn something new, developing a range of skills as you go along. Each block of six sessions will cover something new so you can sign up as many times as you like (booking is essential)

Thursday – Coffee Afternoon 2.30pm – 4pm for £1 for unlimited tea/coffee and biscuits         Enjoy the opportunity to make new friends or socialise whilst enjoying the tea, coffee and biscuits on offer

Friday – Breakfast Club 10am – 12.30pm for £3.50 for a full English breakfast     Join the breakfast club where the menu is varied with items ranging from porridge and toast to a full English breakfast.

Friday – Walking Group 1pm – 4pm for free          The walking group begins and ends at Liverpool Links. It is a great way to get fit and healthy with friends. You will be asked to complete a short risk assessment form before going on the walk.

If you like the sound of these activities, contact Hailey who has referral forms and leaflets – 07914 716 322 or hailey.wood@mencapliverpool.org.uk

P.A.C. Club

P.A.C. is a new social club at The View in Everton (off Everton Road bus routes 14, 17 & 19). The club is open every day of the week! They are having their Grand Opening on Monday 12th May from 10am – 4pm where there will be free entry, a raffle, chicken curry and singers. Everyone is welcome to go along and learn more about this new club

Once the club is up and running you can go Monday – Friday 10am – 12noon, 12.30pm – 3pm or 7pm – 9pm. Each time you go it is £2 per person. The club will be opening on Saturdays and Sundays in the near future so keep looking out for more information!

The club has a pool and darts room, raffles, bingo, bands, play your cards right, discos and karaoke! Go along on the 12th of May to learn more

Your Direction Social

Your Direction is a new social club on Mondays and Tuesday 9.30am – 2.30pm in St Johns Church Hall, Knotty Ash. The sessions are member led so you get a say on what you do each week! You can take your own support at the cost is £15 per session. There will be fun activities as well as skill-building activities like First Aid training and Healthy Living

Lime Hub Activities

The Lime Hub in Kensington is opening its doors on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with some new exciting activities

Mondays at 1pm is the Knit and Natter group! Go along to make new friends, learn new skills and share your passion for knitting. The wool is provided!

Tuesdays at 1pm is Bingo! Entrance is £2.50 per person which covers the cost of 5 games of bingo!

Thursdays at 12.30am – 1.30pm is Dance for the over 50s! The session costs £2 and is a chance to meet new people, enjoy music and dancing and get healthier!

For more information on activities happening at the Lime Hub contact them directly on 0151 233 5085

If you would like any more information on any of the activities get in touch with Hailey – 07914 716 322 or hailey.wood@mencapliverpool.org.uk

Enjoy being out in your Community!

Pamper Party!

Friday 25th April saw 12 ladies from across Liverpool and Knowsley coming together for a Pamper Party!

The day was organised by the LEAF Project to give ladies supported by AFG a treat and a pamper.

Twelve ladies from across Liverpool and Knowsley were kindly invited to a service in Huyton to spend the afternoon getting treatments, eating a delicious buffet (thank you for that!), lots of cakes and enjoying gossip magazines.

The treatments on offer were a file and polish, a mini facial and a mini massage. Two wonderful ladies from Nails and Beyond Liverpool did the treatments and had a great laugh with everyone and made the afternoon really enjoyable

File and Polish at the Pamper Party!

Thank you to everyone that attended – it was a great success and potentially a monthly occurrence!

The LEAF Project highly recommends Nails and Beyond Liverpool so please do get in touch with them if you would like to have your very own pamper party – nailsandbeyondliverpool.gmail.com

Jazz Up Your Tuesday Afternoons…

The LEAF Project has been sharing exciting activities happening across Liverpool with people supported by AFG across Liverpool, Knowsley and St. Helens

Cliff, is a gentleman supported by AFG in the Knowsley area – he loves music and has his own guitar which he often plays at home for the staff and other tenants. When the LEAF Project Coordinator went to meet with Cliff to find out more about him, she learnt how he dreamt of having his own concert on the Albert Dock one day and showed her his red guitar.

The LEAF Project could straight away think of an activity that Cliff would love – the Jazz Afternoons at the Palm House in Sefton Park!

Cliff went along with his support staff and LOVED seeing the band and listening to the live music.

Cliff enjoying the music from the live band!

Cliff also enjoyed tea and cake as part of the afternoon

Cliff with his tea and cake

Cliff’s Team Leader said…

“…it was a brilliant afternoon enjoyed by all and Cliff had the privilege of talking to the band – this has been great for Cliff who has not stop playing his guitar since and all of the staff team would like to thank you for all the lovely music!”

If you would like to go along to the Palm House and enjoy the music then get in touch with Hailey – 07914 716 322 or hailey.wood@mencapliverpool.org.uk