Walk Remembered By All! For Linkage

Sealink and GrowingLinks projectsThe Sealink Project is a joint enterprise of Linkage Community Trustand Seagull Recycling Ltd. The course run by the project is aimed atproviding service users with the basic knowledge and practicalskills needed for plant production.Many people within Linkage are involved in this project. Wooden plantersare produced by the service users on the woodwork course and ceramicplanters are created by those on the art course. These are planted in thegreenhouse and then go out to be sold on the stalls. The work is verypopular and some of the service users on the course have written abouttheir experiences:SimonOver the Easter holidays I went to BillinghayGlass House Craft Market with Ken Towler, oneof the instructors. We went there to sell someplants for GrowingLinks. The day went well andwe sold both seeds and plants. The rain was onand off most of the day. However, we managed to keepdry. During the morning I was asked if I would like to weed the borders forLyn and Keith. I did a very good job and Lyn and Keith were pleased. Kenand I had a nice lunch and then we went back to work for the afternoon. Iworked ever so well and even came back with goodies which I was givenfor free.It was a good day’s work!!!MarkI am on a Sealink course because I am learning about the different plantsand flowers and how to grow the plants and care for them, and I amlearning about the different names of the plants.In the past I used to cut the grass and go on the ride-on tractor. I alsoused to dig the ground and practice using the forklift. Richard LockWheaton trained me how to use the forklift. We use the forklift to moveheavy things. I helped to get the cement ready to layconcrete in the greenhouse. In the morning I checkmy plants and water them and check for insects. Ilook for white flies, caterpillars and bugs.Sometimes we have lessons on the blackboard andlearn about the types of plants and how they grow.CherryHi my name is Cherry and I have been on theSealink course ever since it started. I have enjoyedbeing on the course because I get paid 60. Themoney goes into my bank account for my flat. OneMonday I am on a catering course and the otherMonday I am on the Sealink course. Also I am on theSealink course on a Thursday and Friday every week. I have learned a lotsince I have been on the course. I like doing write-ups about what I havedone and also other paper work as well. I have recently done a lot of plugplants putting them into other pots. I water the plants on my own table. Ipot on plants and tubs ready to be sold on the Spilsby market. I havebeen to the Spilsby market once and it was good.Also we have got our own market stall at Scremby where people comeand buy plants. We also make sure that the benches and the floor isswept and kept tidy. I also do other jobs outside, but if it is raining I stay4 in the green house. I will miss this course when it finishes.OFoopSTPThtobfA RTAs a natural progression, GrowingLinks was formed to provide a retailoutlet for the plants produced. Sales on the weekly Spilsby market stallare growing month on month as the word has spread about the qualityand value for money of the products on sale. A similar stall is being run atBillinghay Glass House Craft Market. A stall is also opened two days aweek within the grounds of Scremby Grange for friends and family ofLinkage. This gives service users the experience and the confidence ofworking on a stall and dealing with customers in a safe environmentbefore moving on to market stalls.PGNIM O M ETstramotheir fawareneIt was also decidThe food service lecturer, JStephen is pictured above with June Jcertificate and his prize of a set of artistDavid’s posteragainst racismis a winnerLinkage knotches up another winner in the ‘ShowRacism the Red Card’ competitionOn the 2nd of May I went to Newcastle Civic Centre toattend a prize giving for my entry into the Show RacismThe Red Card art competition. Having got up early, and puton my suit for the day, I travelled by car with my independencetutor, Claire, and my registered manager, Eddie. When we gotthere, I was really pleased to see my picture displayed in the entrance.At the presentation were the Newcastle and England footballer, Kieron Dyer and SholaAmeobi who also plays for Newcastle United. Actress Charlie Hardwick who plays ‘Val’from Emmerdale was also there, and I got their autographs as well as having my picturetaken with them. There were children from schools across the North East of England whowon prizes for different age groups. Two girls won prizes for writing poems, the rest of uswon for the pictures we did.When it was my turn to get my prize, which was for the best picture from all entries fromspecialist schools and colleges in the North of England, I went up on to the stage. I wasgiven an England football shirt, a miniature football, a Show Racism The Red Card cap, tshirt, badges and wrist bands, an Umbro sports bag, a drinks bottle, and a framedcertificate. This was the best part of the day for me! On the way back we also stopped offat The Angel of the North statue to have a picture taken.It all started when in my art session with Ruth Johnson and June Jacobs, I was asked ifI wanted to paint a picture to enter the competition. I thought it was a good idea, becauseI think racism is wrong. I had lots of ideas for pictures, but Ruth helped me to chooseone, which I then painted. The learner council then looked at all the entries from all thestudents at college and picked mine to send off to the competition. I was really surprisedwhen I got the letter to say that I had won a prize and was invited to go and collect it.I would like to thank everyone at college who helped me with the picture, choosing it andfor taking me to get my prize. It was a really great day out.David, Weelsby Campus

E N T SF ROodlinkposter designA QuietPlaceMLNKAThe college art groups have been working on producing postersto promote the importance of hand washing. The poster, createdby Toynton learner Stephen, was chosen to be submitted to thefoodlink poster design competition.INowcreating itsmagic atToyntonG EThe foodlink programme has been running for 14 years and contains severaltrands of activity, all with the over-arching objective of raising awarenessongst consumers of all ages about the simple steps that they can take to keepfood safe. Part of this programme is an annual poster competition aimed at raisingess in schools.ded to hold a Linkage competition with two categories: 18 and under, and 19 and over.June Jacobs, judged the entries and chose Stephen’s entry as the overall winner.Jacobs, his winning poster which was entered into the foodlink competition, hist’s pencils.Picture far left shows Ruth Johnson, dedicated support for art, with Matthew and Lee,who won the 19 and over category with his winning poster, his certificate andhis prize of a set of artist’s pencils.Toynton’s A Quiet Place started off with two open days onThursday 11 May and Friday 12 May and eight learners andseven staff receiving a therapeutic touch session.One member of staff who visited said that they could not believe howrelaxing and calming the surroundings were. “Within minutes all the day’sstresses seemed to disappear and I felt calm. Excellent room and thehand massage was very professional.”Eight learners are now accessing A Quiet Place for a six week interventionprogramme which includes a 45 minutes session on emotionalintelligence to help with the development of communication skills,resilience, empathy, managing feelings and self-esteem. The sessionsusually begin with five minutes of Tai Chi.There is also one session with a holistic therapist who works on thelearner’s feet or hands to help release the stress and strain of everydayliving, and a bio-feedback programme involving the use of heartmonitoring technology to help learners understand the effects of stress.Some of these learners have described their first day in A Quiet Place:Rebecca: “The room is colourful and makes people relax. I feel calmand relaxed. Helps me to go to sleep. All my worries have gone away. Itis magic in A Quiet Place!”Ashley: “I like it because I canrelax. I like the music, and Ihave a great time. Hope itwill work because it will bea good experience. Iwould advice everybodyto come!”FridayNightat the MoviesToynton’s performing arts lecturer Claire Allen produced a ‘showstopper’ atthe Embassy Centre in Skegness on 23 June, when 54 learners from ToyntonCampus joined 250 of the most talented performers in Skegness for a FridayNight at the Movies musical spectacular.The volunteer cast included professional West End performers, local dance schools,and art groups singing and dancing their hearts out to raise money for the BBC RadioLincolnshire’s Go for Gold Appeal and the Linkage Community Trust charity.The Linkage learners took to the spotlight for a Summer Holiday excerpt and a medleyfrom Grease with Sarah and Marcus singing as Sandy and Danny, and Ashleyperformed as Cliff Richard.James: “It’s really niceand relaxing. The musicis so soothing and I reallyenjoy it so much, it’s likebeing somewhere else. I havea lot people asking me what it’slike. I tell them it’s like paradise. It’samazing to be here!”Julie Turbin, A Quiet Place co-ordinatorrace for lifeLinkage finance director, Maria Walker, ran in the CancerResearch UK’s race for life at the Lincolnshire Showground inMay. The race was one of 230 being organised throughout thecountry in the UK’s biggest women only fundraising event. Mariacompleted the 5 km run in 41 minutes, which isn’t too bad, shesays, since the winner of the race completed the course in 19minutes.Maria ran for her friend Amanda Stewart who has cancer. Maria’s 12year-old daughter, Alessandra, ran for her grandma who also hascancer.A full report and pictures will be featured in the next edition of Linkage NewsMaria says a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored her,as she raised a staggering 567.5

Café anyone?Learners and staff at Toynton Campus can dine in styleafter The Café officially opened in June.The vocationaltraining area teaches our learners to prepare, cook andserve meals, while improving their independence skillsand gaining qualifications.The refurbished centre has a commercial kitchen and a newconservatory area, providing seating for twenty people. The Café isprimarily run by catering lecturer James Bird, who helps thetrainees to produce meals for fellow learners and staff.Said James: “This experience enables the students to gain valuablecommunication skills within a team and serving customers. Forthose students wishing to work in a catering environment, thisprovision gives them a realistic working environment and anopportunity to gain qualifications such as NVQs.”At the launchlearners prepared animpressive menu which includedsausage and pickle hors d’oeuvre, carrot and coriander soup tostart, chicken fillet cooked with mushrooms, onion, garlic, tomatoesand white wine as the main course and poached pear and icecream to finish.Added James: “The launch went really, really well. All of the guestsenjoyed the meal and it provided the learners with a very valuableexperience.” The Café will be open three days a week for studentsand staff.The guests are seated fortheir meals. Pictured, fromleft, Bob Price, chiefexecutive, Marie, MartinLodge, employment director,Catering is just one of the subjects offered at the college. There are Hayley, Frank Proctor,also courses in retail, horticulture, food service, construction, vehicle resource director and Mariavaleting, sport, drama, art, media and information technology.Walker, finance director.Livingstone Court new service usersWest LifeconcertLiam, Phillip, and Antonia moved intoLivingstone Court on 17 March 2006.Saturday 20thMayPhillip moved into a single flat and says that it is thebest move he has ever made. “I have control of myhousekeeping which is kept at my flat and it's quiet andpeaceful.”Antonia shares with Sarah. She enjoys their new friendship and theyhave bonded really well. Antonia has been poorly recently and Sarahhas helped by doing her ironing and housework.Liam shares with Paul who, although new to Livingstone Court, is showingLiam the ‘ropes’. Liam says its magic. “I was nervous at first but now I’m ok.”One giant stepfor LinkageThe concert was atthe Lincoln footballground, and there werethousands of people there. Wewere stood up for nearly 5 hours. Myself,Alison, Kerri, Mathew, Kate and Johnworked our way through the people to tryand get closer to the stage, and we werenearly at the front.The stage was massive. We saw LibertyX,Lee from Blue, Journey South and WestLife. We had a wicked time!by AshleyPicture this!Seen left is Steven with his fantastic artwork recentlyexhibited at Horncastle library.May Day saw Toynton main hall andday learners jetting off to theNational Space Centre inLeicester.The space age building washome to two huge rocketswhich the students could viewfrom the top. John described it asvery scary at the top: “It was veryhigh and I was scared to look down.”They were treated to a film show in the main theatre whichtook them on a simulated journey through the solar system.Learner Sheena thought it was “a lovely experience” and Jocame out feeling very dizzy and a little ‘space sick’, but shesoon recovered once they got to the snack bar!There were many hands-on tasks for the learners to get togrips with including a simulated space jump and reaction tests- so Toynton will be adding astronaut training as a new coursenext year! It was a great day out and all the learners cameback from their space journey weary travellers, but all had bigsmiles on their faces.Kirsty ShepherdMedia Lecturer6Learners wait for the gueststo arrive. Pictured, from left,Charlie, Dean, Reece, Susan,Hayley, Rebecca and Marie.Other students who also exhibited with Steven were Claire,Emma, Neil, Fraser, Ashley, James and Susan. Their artworkrepresented their dreams and also demonstrated theirburgeoning artistic ability.Also on display were worksby Kirsty Sheperd’smedia group.

A moving storyMore Linkage service users have achieved their long-term ambition and moved into their own flatsand of the five taking up the challenge of independent living, four have move into their ownaccommodation at Spilsby and another has moved to Louth.Emma writes:Hello, my name is Emma. I have just moved into my own flat in Spilsby. This is the first time I’ve lived on my ownand I like it. I am very near to my Mum and my sister and they come and visit me in my flat. I have wanted tolive independently for a long time and I was nervous but it is better than I thought! My flat is lovely. I havechosen all the carpets and my furniture, and my family have given me lots of things.and Darren (pictured left) tells us:I am really enjoying my life in the community and as I like it so much I am doing very well and getting thehang of it! The staff are very good to me and I am doing my own shopping and catching the school bus ontime. I am doing very well at cleaning and doing my own washing. I love it here at Spilsby.None of us underestimate the hurdles these young people have overcome in order to achieve their ultimategoals, they are an example to us all. Well done all of you and we wish you all the very best in your new lives.Limes eggstra Brian and KylieService users and staff at the Limes inGrimsby held a magnificent Easter eggraffle to raise funds for the Pointers’Committee. The egg was donated bythe Limes and tickets were sold at a 1 a time. The raffle was drawn at theQuayside on 10th April and was won byTracy Pashley, deputy care manager atthe Limes. That’s justice for you! Thetotal amount raised was 78.Deep trip from LivingstoneThis is me, Brian, with Kylie at Louis Tussards in Blackpool. I wentfor a weekend with Jodi, Andrew, Darren and Pat Ibbeson (staff).We stayed in a B&B for two nights and on the Monday we went toLiverpool Foodball Club’s ground at Anfield to see the 1986 *replaybetween Liverpool and Everton. I support Liverpool but have neverbeen to Anfield - it was fantastic weekend!We want to thank Frank Proctor,director of resources, becausethis was a free trip withsome money he gave usfrom the sale of the 4 x4 vehicle we won atChristmas.*It was a charitymatch in which theplayers who starred inthe match the firsttime round playedagain.My first big trip from Livingstone Courtwas to The Deep in Hull. We sawsome sharks and pilot fish and wolfeels and lots of other sea creatures.We had a McDonalds on the wayback and I really enjoyed my dayout. It was great fun.Toni, Livingstone Court.On April 17th we all went to The Deep in Hull.We took an hour and a half to get there andwe had our pack ups on the bus. Wewent in groups and I went with Tina ourhouseparent, and Toni. We sawdifferent sorts of fishes and sharks.There was a touch screen computerand a lift that took you up to the top tosee the fish. We went to the café fora drink, looked round the shop thenwent back to the bus. Then we went toMcDonalds, then back to Mablethorpe. Ienjoyed the day out. This is a photo of meand Jodi.Sarah, Livingstone CourtOur trip to ParisMy name is John, I am the tall one in the sunglasses and I live atLivingstone Court in Mablethorpe. I recently went on a trip to Pariswith my care manager Julie Rust, deputy care manager ElaineCostello and a few of my friends. This is a photo of us standing infront of the Eiffel Tower. We travelled to Paris by ferry, which is myfavourite way to travel - I love ferries!! We had a fantastic time andmade lots of friends on the coach that we went on.7

aibmaGotMy tripby Sue Kennedy, Registered Care ManagerSampson HouseIn February this year, I was asked if I wouldlike to go to Gambia to support a badmintonproject in a small village called Youna.Having spoken to my family we decided thatit would be too good an opportunity to miss!We were made very welcome, smiles greeted us ona daily basis along with a shout of “mintee”,meaning sweet. Each day we had a walk around thevillage accompanied by children clutching ourfingers, often two or three to each hand.March flew by in a whirl of vaccinations and fundraising to support the trip. Sampson House organiseda fete which raised 471. My youngest son Damonorganised the Nettleham Beaver Scouts into savingloose change. They raised 63 for the project, whilstachieving the Bronze Scout Award for Damon.The comparison to our homes and possessions wasastronomical. The houses are generally three roomswith four or five people sharing a room to sleep.There was no electricity, hurricane lamps andcandles were the only form of lighting. For thechildren there were no play stations, computers orfancy toys. Instead children played with tyres and flatfootballs, yet they are happy with what they had.By the time the trip came round in April, I was feelinga little bit nervous. I was about to travel hundreds ofmiles from home with two teenagers, Leo and Chris,and the badminton Coach, Tim.So what can I tell you about my time in Gambia? Itwas the most wonderful experience I have ever had.There were tears of joy, laughter and sorrow.As part of the trip, we brought over badminton posts,a net, rackets, shuttlecocks, medals and trophies, allas part of out luggage allowance. On our arrival, thehall had been partially tiled, the remainder wascompleted by the following Sunday which meant thaton Easter Monday we were able to mark out a courtto play on.Sweets are a luxury hence the chanting of “mintee”when vehicles pass by. Toilets and showers areoutside and without hot running water. Clothes arehand-me-downs and very worn.Trying to describe what the reactions were when wegave out gifts is difficult without soundingcondescending. We had taken a load of drawstringbags and when it came time to give them out, thechildren swarmed around me. There was nopatience or waiting their turn, little hands snatchedgreedily at you. Deep down you knew that the adultswould take the bags away them, but such istheir way of life.Walk for Linkage - continued from page 1Mr Letch, who lives at Burton-on-Trent, is not new to such ademanding challenge, having walked to the base camp onMount Everest in 2004. He is very much aware of theamount of preparation work that needs to be put in beforesetting off on a journey like this and has walked up MountSnowden, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pyke, in the run up to histrip to K2’s home in Pakistan, in July.The journey begins with a flight to Islamabad and then on to Skar

for Linkage Super dad Edmund Letch, whose son Ashley is a Linkage service user at the Limes in Grimsby, is about to set out on a daring adventure that will see him walk to the base camp of K2 which, at 8,611 metres, is the second highest mountain in the world. Along the way he will also be raising lots o