Our Lifelong Learning Programmes are for adults with learning disabilities, complex needs and autism. Our specialist staff use creative methods such as art, drama, music, movement and multi-sensory activity to make learning fun and accessible, exploring a wide range of different topics based on a yearly theme.

Our theme for 2019/20 is Mystery; we’re looking at all sorts of mysterious things including the mysteries of the human body, the mysteries of space and mysterious places!

Coronavirus Response

We know how important it is for people to stay active, engaged and stimulated while our Lifelong Learning Programmes are closed. With that in mind, we’ll be posting 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 and garden. Please visit our Daily Activities page to take part!

We also have a number of resources that are available to people who attend our Lifelong Learning Programmes; please get in touch for information on how to access them.

Lifelong Learning Programmes run from 10am – 3pm during term time. The day is broken up into three one-hour sessions, with regular breaks built in to encourage social interaction. Our programmes cost £40 per day and are usually funded through people’s personal budgets. Participants sign up for the academic year, and we have a four-week notice period to allow us to fill a space if anyone leaves us.

You can download our 2019/20 term dates here.

We also run a residential weekend twice a year at The Beamsley Project, which is open to anyone who attends our Lifelong Learning Programmes. Beamsley is a great opportunity for people from different Purple Patch groups to come together, socialise, learn and get creative – and it’s also where we decide on our our new theme each year!

We offer two free taster sessions so that people can find out if Purple Patch is right for them.

If you, or somebody you know, might like to come to Purple Patch then please get in touch with our Programmes Team. We will work with you to identify access needs, find out a bit about you, and discuss the best programme for you to try.