Newsletter Summer 2013

Lapwing

Newsletter July 2013

Quiz Night & Ryan Insurance 2-3 Connie 4 Celebration Event 6-7 Certificates 8 Student News 9 Chantry 10 Optua Games 11 What’s On Page 12

E4L: Platinum for Paige Newsletter Editor :Wendy Quantrill Lapwing HQ: 01473 604809

wquantrill@lapwingsuffolk.co.uk www.lapwingsuffolk.org.uk

Lapwing Newsletter

positive learning in Suffolk

Quiz Night Lapwing Suffolk has been selected by leading East Anglian insurance broker Ryan Insurance, as one of its two nominated charities for 2013.

The partnership was launched at Ryan Insurance’s annual Quiz Night held at Ipswich Sports Club in the Spring with funds being split between Lapwing and fellow nominated charity Headway Ipswich.

The quiz was made up of teams from Ryan Insurance and a team from both charities and featured some incredibly innovative rounds with a ‘Playdoh landmark’ round, a ‘guess the unusual cake ingredients’ round and a ‘diet cola’ taste test. The Lapwing Team produced a brave ‘Statue of Liberty’ which was well received by the judges.

Although it was a team from Ryan Insurance who were victorious on the night, a total of £185 was raised, so everyone was a winner. s of a bird, Lapwing provides protection and shelter for the young people we work with. Students who attend Lapwing have often had a succession of

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Lapwing Newsletter

Ryan Insurance As well as choosing us as a nominated charity Ryan Insurance Group has also kindly committed to sponsor this very newsletter. It goes to students, potential students, providers and funders highlighting Lapwing students’ tremendous achievements despite the obstacles to learning that they face every day.

Sue Chesworth, Chief Executive of Lapwing, comments “The Lapwing newsletter is an essential vehicle that allows us to reach vulnerable young people, who in many cases have been unable to access any form of learning or educational support for some time. We are immensely grateful to Ryan Insurance for stepping in to ensure we continue to reach these young people.”

Tim Larke, Director of Ryan Insurance added “We are delighted to support such an important local charity as Lapwing Suffolk and the newsletter seemed an appropriate place to start our association. Spreading the word about all the good work this charity does for young people in the local area is essential. We are proud to support Lapwing Suffolk and we look forward to fundraising and supporting their events.”

Please show your support for Ryan Insurance who provide products for personal and business insurance.

I’m ‘Grace Ruth’. I was born on 22 December 2012. I visited the Lapwing Office to meet everyone. The ladies made clucking and cooing noises. My Mummy Fay Pyecroft will be coming back to work soon.

Congratulations also to Programme Coordinator Ruth Robbins who has had a baby boy ‘Jack’ and Tutor Jayne Kingshott whose little girl ‘Leoni Mae’ arrived on 7 November 2012.

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Lapwing Newsletter

Connie Barnes joins Lapwing Learning Mentor Connie tells us how she’s finding Lapwing and shares some gems about herself How did you first hear about Lapwing My friend got a job with Lapwing and really enjoyed it and I was looking for a new challenge so she suggested I apply.

What are your first impressions of Lapwing Really good, everyone is friendly and helpful and I’ve enjoyed becoming part of the team.

What do you find most challenging / rewarding about working with Lapwing?

I find the job very rewarding, knowing I am able to help the students and have fun doing it too.

Connie has ambitions to go skydiving.

Until then, she gets her kicks at Zumba classes.

What’s the best/worst thing to happen since you started working with Lapwing?

Thinking I had a snow day then being asked to go to Klub Equest and help out with the students and horses. In order to keep warm in the afternoon we started doing some Irish dancing around the yard, I don’t think the students were too impressed at first but it turned out to be a really fun day.

What might students and colleagues be surprised to know about you?

That my real name is Constance.

Were you named after anyone?

My Great Grandmother.

What is the first thing you notice about people?

Their smile.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

To learn to skydive.

How do you manage work pressure?

I go to workout at the gym.

Besides work, what are your passions?

I love spending time with my friends, going to the gym especially Zumba classes, going to the cinema and shopping.

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Lapwing Newsletter -

Com muniCake Rural Coffee Caravan In May we visited the Rural Coffee Caravan - a project which delivers information, friendship, coffee and cake across Suffolk. Information is power - and the Project befriends people and offers them access to the information they need to empower them.

Identifying a common aim we made contact through Twitter and arranged to take them some home-baked cakes and some Lapwing Prospectuses so they would provide information about Lapwing while they’re out and about.

Daniel Daniel Micheal is not able to communicate verbally. This photo captures a special moment when he clearly communicated to Carl (Music Tutor at Aldeburgh Music Media Project) to tell him to play a particular song again. This is just one example of the wonderful progress he has made this year. We hope next year brings even stronger communication from Daniel.

Troy on Radio 18 year old Lapwing student Troy Whymark has received some fantastic publicity for his new radio drama with an interview on BBC Radio Suffolk. He took this as an opportunity to raise awareness of Lapwing too! His radio drama about ghosts in Christchurch Mansion – featuring Hugh Fraser (best known for his role in Agatha Christie’s Poirot) as the Narrator – has been produced with the help of Julien Mery, his Photography, Film and Media Tutor.

Find the interview on the news page of our website.

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Lapwing Newsletter

Celebration Event Wendy Quantrill Celebrate Fynn Valley provided a semirural setting for this year’s Annual Celebration Event and Graduation Ceremony.

The event certainly seemed very rural when, with minutes to spare before students and parents arrived, Debbie Rawlinson from Downham Cottage Care Farm popped her head around the door and said she hoped it was ok but she’d brought some ‘goats’ with her.

At first we thought she had said ‘coats’...

Fynn Valley took it all in their stride and allowed Debbie to set the goats’ pen right outside our entrance so that all visitors could have a pet with them.

As well as Downham Cottage many of our providers were at the Event, giving families the opportunity to meet staff and see what educational opportunities are on offer for students.

Providers / Stands Beyond the Wall Brockford Barn Butterfly Lodge Chantry Park/ActivLives Downham Cottage Care Farm (and goats!)

Eastern Angling Genesis Orwell Mencap

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Green Light Trust Julien Mery Klub Equest Noise Solution Paige Clifford (student who has set up a small business with support from Lapwing) Recreate Red 2 Green Theo Middleton (student who baked much of the food for the event) The Yard Many thanks to everyone who came on the day - from providers, tutors and mentors to students and their families!

positive learning in Suffolk

Lapwing Newsletter

2013 The Awards A huge pile of over 220 certificates, (including AQA Unit Award Scheme Certificates) were presented. Here’s just a little flavour of what our magnificent students have achieved.

Arts Award Animation and Design Animal Husbandry Angling AQA Unit Award Scheme Bee Keeping Bicycle Renovation Breadmaking Caring for Birds of Prey Childcare Cookery and Customer Service Dealing with Feelings and Emotions Employability for Life First Aid Floristry Functional Skills Independent Travel Literacy Music and Sensory Communication Numeracy Photography Pony Club Badges Poultry Care Using the Telephone Vehicle Technology Web-based Design Woodland Management Woodwork

See page 8 for full details of the students who have achieved Employability for Life and Functional Skills awards.

The full set of photos are on the Flickr website: www.flickr.com/photos/lapwingsuffolk/

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Lapwing Newsletter

Huge Achievements Employability 4 Life Charter The following students have done fantastically well achieving E4L Certificates.

Alex Harrap - Bronze Hannah Foster - Silver Alec Gradidge - Bronze Thomas Tilley - Bronze (pictured right) Robert Grant - Bronze Ben McClaren - Bronze Claire Bonfield - Silver (pictured right) James Duggins - Silver Paige Clifford - Platinum (see our front cover) Functional Skills

Jackie Bannisters’ students have passed these functional skills exams: Sam Mondon: Entry 1 Functional Skills Mathematics plus an AQA Unit in Using a Communication Aid in a Positive Way Laura Green: Entry 3 Functional Skills Mathematics and English (plus in January she achieved her Entry 2 Functional Skills Mathematics and English) James Willer (right far right): Entry 2 Functional Skills Mathematics (plus in February he achieved his Entry 3 Functional Skills English) Tim King (right far left): Entry 3 Functional Skills Mathematics (plus in January he achieved his Entry 2 Functional Skills Mathematics).

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New Team Leader Tutors The newly created post of ‘Team Leader Tutors’ will be job shared between Jayne Kingshott and Claire Penrice. They will supervise our team of tutors: motivating, supporting and mentoring them.

Two of our students - Paige Clifford and Nathan C - sat in on the candidate presentation and Q&As and had a say in the selection, giving our students a voice in

Lapwing Newsletter

positive learning in Suffolk

Title

Scream if you want to go faster...!

‘Jed Warner does Centre Parcs’ by Mentor Melissa Courtney-Wines This was the second time Jed has been here for a holiday and he seemed to enjoy himself even more this time. Jed was very brave choosing to go on the new water ride named Tropical Cyclone!! (You must check this out on YouTube to fully appreciate the thrill of this ride.)

For Jed it was an achievement just climbing the many flights of stairs to reach the start of the ride. He then managed to negotiate himself (with some help) onto a 4 seater raft. The ride reaches speeds of 24 miles per hour with zero gravity. By the end of the ride my heart was beating so fast and I looked over at Jed who was laughing and signing ‘More!!’.

Thomas Thomas Tilley has been at The Centre since January. His first attempt at making something was the nest-box. Marking out the work using templates provided, cutting the wood, sanding, assembling and painting took him about 8 hours. Once completed the box was fixed to a tree in his Gran’s garden and birds have already nested in it. Tom has also made a large planter box to house a fig tree in to restrict the roots - hopefully improving the fruiting of the figs. This box took around 16 hours work and was of his own design.

“Working at the Centre helps Tom interact with others and giving him more confidence in his abilities. He wants to make shelving for his Xbox games next, I’m sure he’ll make a good job too.” Andy Cutler(Mentor)

Marcus Usually Lapwing student Marcus Handscombe requires at least three visits somewhere before he will engage in an activity - once for a recce, another time to see inside the venue and on the third visit he will usually undertake an activity. However we were thrilled when on his first visit to The Centre Marcus got stuck in.

He has started making a wheelbarrow planter for his father. He is overcoming his challenges so well. We are so proud of him and he is surpassing expectations.

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positive learning in Suffolk

Chantry Open Day

Garden Blooms for Event Chantry Walled Garden was in full bloom for its summer Open Day on Sunday 16 June.

Visitors admired the flower borders and abundant vegetable plots, built and tended by Lapwing students - including James Duggins, Rowland Robbins, Bryony Owen, Hannah Foster, Alex Harrap, Hamish Griffin and Andrew Darby.

There are also glasshouses which have produced around 2,000 plants for Ipswich Borough Council’s town’s parks and borders. In the cottage, teas and coffees were served with delicious homemade cakes made by students and mentors.

The walled garden project – a partnership between ActivLives and Lapwing Suffolk - is almost at the end of its second successful year, offering horticulture programmes and opportunities for students to learn skills such as cooking and construction.

Chantry Walled Garden is open every Tuesday 10am to 3pm, for plant sales throughout the summer. The project hopes to offer an educational programme offering horticulture and other qualifications next term.

Castle Hill Community Centre Lapwing students are making great progress with Life Skills and Communications Skills using Music and Sport at Castle Hill.

Here are Tom Banham and Luke Smith taking their turns to communicate using the drum and football.

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Lapwing Newsletter

positive learning in Suffolk

Optua Games 27 June 2013, Royal Hospital School

Hockey Dribbling, Welly Wanging, Football and Netball Shoot Outs and Archery all featured on the fun-packed day in the beautiful grounds of RHS. The Lapwing Teams below competed against other teams which included Beacon Hill Special School, Teaming Up, The Stowmarket Hub, Thomas Wolsey School, Rushmere Community Hub and Genesis Orwell Mencap White Tigers Bryony Owen Alex Harrap Jed Warner Hannah Foster Alasdair Messenger Isabelle Phillips Nicola Buss Alice Kent Meriel Bolt Pink Panthers Laura Green Timmy King Sam Mondon James Willer Niam Habergham Darryl Nutter Thomas Hughes Tom Lowe Yellow Big Birds Matt Tuffen Logan Hoare Richard Emery Fay Ickringill Robert Grant Marcus Handscombe Alec Gradidge James Duggins

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Lapwing Newsletter

Term Dates Autumn Term

Tuesday 3 Sept 2013 – Friday 20 December 2013 Non Student Days Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 September 2013 Half Term Monday 28 October 2013 – Friday 1 November 2013 Christmas Holiday Monday 23 December 2013 – Friday 3 January 2014

Spring Term

Monday 6th January 2014 – Friday 4th April 2014 Non Student Day Monday 6th January 2014 Half Term Monday 17th February 2014 – Friday 21st February 2014 Easter Holiday Monday 7th April 2014 – Monday 21st April 2014

Summer Term

Tuesday 22nd April 2014 – Wednesday 23rd July 2014 Non Student Day Thursday 22nd May 2014 Half term Monday 26th May 2014 – Friday 30th May 2014 Summer Holiday Thursday 24th July 2014 – TBC One month’s notice of any additional staff training days will be given.

This Lapwing Suffolk newsletter is kindly sponsored by Ryan Insurance Group.

See if they could provide insurance for your family or business. www.ryan-group.co.uk 12

www.lapwingsuffolk.co.uk

Lapwing Volunteer Hannah Berresford’s What’s On this Autumn Ipswich Mencap Masquerade Ball

Greshams Social Club Sat 12th Oct, 7pm. An evening of entertainment with the ‘Patchymatt Disco’. Tickets £25 including finger buffet. Buy 5 get one free.

Ipswich Has Got Talent The Regent ipswich Saturday 26th October 7;30pm Ipswich Has Got Talent is a local community based project bringing local talent to the Regent theatre. Now in its fifth year this year’s theme is ‘The Musicals’.

Dick Whittington New Wolsey Theatre

21 Nov 2013 to 25 Jan 2014 Fairy Bow Bells is Holding Out for a Hero to save London from the Evil King Rat.

Giant Christmas Fayre

Cameo Hotel, Copdock Sun 17th Nov 2013 10am-4pm With over 60 stalls selling locally made crafts & quality gifts, there’s something for everyone, lots of great ideas for presents to suit all pockets. £1 admission fee, plenty of parking and refreshments available.