Projects and Partnerships
Purple Patch regularly works 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, and organisations also invite us in to provide specialist training, consultancy and workshop delivery.
Why we do it
To meet need
Projects allow us to deliver targeted sessions that respond to identified needs.
To work with new people
We get to work with people in new areas, or those who might not be able to attend our Lifelong Learning Programmes.
To support others
We have the opportunity to share our expertise with other organisations to upskill their staff.
Current work
Below is a selection of the projects we’re currently working on:
Move On Up
Funder:
National Lottery Community Fund
Description:
With our partner schools and colleges in Leeds and Bradford, we are providing early support to young learning-disabled and autistic adults who are transitioning into adult community services. Through a multi-strand approach including transition workshops, buddy training and personalised signposting, we aim to help Move On Up participants feel confident and empowered in the face of change.
Purple Research Group
Funder:
n/a
Description:
A group of participants from our Lifelong Learning Programmes are working with a researcher from the University of Leeds, called Melissa, to find out what people think about Purple Patch.
The Purple Research Group meet every two weeks over Zoom, and are exploring three key themes using creative, interactive research methods.
To Wander is to Adventure
Funder:
Scope Connecting Communities
Description:
In Phase 4 of To Wander is to Adventure, we are introducing mindful walking to the HOOF groups at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm! The To Wander group will continue to develop their mindful practice and their co-facilitation skills by planning and leading mindful walks at the farm. The To Wander and the HOOF groups will share their expertise, explore nature using mindfulness, and make new connections with each other.
Highlights
We’ve been lucky enough to run some fabulous projects over the years. Here are some of our highlights.
We were funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to create a film about the social history of learning disability.
We were part of a research project called ‘Living Life to the Fullest’, which sought to forge new understandings of the lives, hopes, desires and contributions of children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. An arts retreat that we ran as part of the project was featured on BBC Breakfast.
We delivered training to library staff in Kirklees and Bradford in how to deliver Sensory Stories. The work, funded by Arts Council England, had a huge impact, with Kirklees libraries being nominated for a national Libraries Change Lives awards.
We collaborated on a sensory installation based on Dylan Thomas’ ‘Under Milk Wood’, funded by Arts Council England.
We were funded by the Clore Duffield Foundation to work with celebrated poet Ian McMillan and create a poem based on the responses of children with complex needs to classic literature.
We ran workshops for young people with learning disabilities as part of a cross-disciplinary, arts-based research project which explored the toilet as a place of exclusion and belonging.
Got an idea?
We’re always keen to develop new partnerships; if you have an idea of how we could work together, or for more information about our previous work, please get in touch.
