Who we are

Purple Patch Arts exists to provide innovative, inclusive, creative learning opportunities that improve the lives of learning-disabled and autistic adults by expanding their understanding of, and engagement with, the world.

What we do

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We support learning-disabled and autistic people to engage with new experiences and reach their full potential.

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Our experienced staff provide inclusive, fun, informal learning opportunities that are designed to be accessible to all.

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We use The Purple Patch Approach, which includes creative methods such as art, drama, music, movement and multi-sensory activity.

Activity Reports

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There’s lots of information about what we get up to in our Activity Reports.

Why we do it

We believe that everyone should have access to meaningful learning opportunities that are fun, exciting and engaging.

Our innovative approach means that we can work with a sense of adventure, adapting to the needs of our participants and creating environments where people can thrive.

Every year we support and empower over 200 people to lead their best life by improving their mental wellbeing; we do this by using creative methods to increase their social connections, confidence, independence and communication skills, and help them learn new life skills.

What are you looking for?

Lifelong Learning Programmes

We run Lifelong Learning Programmes in community venues across Yorkshire. We explore a wide range of different topics that engage and challenge, while working with participants to develop their confidence, independence, communication and social skills, and improve their mental and physical wellbeing.

Projects and Partnerships

We regularly work with day services, supported living providers, libraries, Universities, schools and other organisations to deliver short term, funded projects that meet specific outcomes. We actively seek grants to fund a wide range of projects, or organisations invite us in to provide specialist training, consultancy and workshop delivery.

Support Us

As a charity, receiving support is hugely important in making sure we can continue to deliver our life enhancing work. We keep our programme fees low so that we’re accessible to as many people as possible. This means that we have to find money from elsewhere to subsidise the costs, and your support plays an important part in that.

Vision, Mission and Values

Our vision is a world where learning-disabled and autistic people are empowered to reach their potential.

Our mission is to provide opportunities for learning-disabled and autistic people across Yorkshire to thrive through engagement with innovative, creative lifelong learning.

As a value-led organisation it’s important to us that everything we do fits within our four core values:

Humanity

We recognise and respect the intrinsic value of every individual and empower people to reach their full potential.

Creativity

We do learning differently through creative exploration, discovery and self-expression.

Passion

We are excited about the power of our work to help create a world where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive.

Authenticity

We create genuine and long-lasting connections with people and do what we say we will.

Resources

We have a number of resources and activities that are available to anyone for free!

Daily Activities

While our Lifelong Learning Programmes were closed we posted daily activities on our website, in line with our weekly theme; you can do them all at home, using resources that you should be able to find around the house. 

Colouring Pages

During the pandemic our fabulous Programme Leader Lorna illustrated some beautiful colouring pages to go along with our weekly theme. They’re all archived here and are free to download and print as many times as you want!

Zoom Disco

We run a disco on Zoom at the end of every term – this is a fabulous opportunity for people to let their hair down before the holidays! The discos are open to anyone with a learning disability whether or not they come to Purple Patch.

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