Our Lifelong Learning Programmes are for adults with learning disabilities and autistic people. 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 2020/21 is Adventure!

Covid-19 Update: We’re very happy to say that we’re working towards reopening our Lifelong Learning Programmes on Monday 21st June.

In the meantime, we know how important it is for people to stay active, engaged and stimulated, so:

• We’re running 15 group Zoom sessions a week – as well as our adapted Lifelong Learning Programmes, we’re also running music, drama, literature, movement and visual art Zoom sessions every week.
• We’ve been 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. We won’t be posting any more while we get ready to reopen, but there’s lots to try out on our Daily Activities page!
• Our fabulous Programme Leader Lorna has been illustrating some beautiful colouring pages to go along with our weekly theme. You can see them all here. They’re free to download and print as many times as you want!
• We’re running a Zoom disco on the first Thursday of every month from 7pm – 8.30pm. Join DJ James as he spins some classic tunes!

For more information please contact Bronia: bronia@purplepatcharts.org  / 077250 40801 or Melanie: melanie@purplepatcharts.org  / 077301 44934

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.

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.