Willow course guide - updated January 2023
Willow's courses, activities, and opportunities for adults with learning disabilities in and around Croydon.
Willow's courses, activities, and opportunities for adults with learning disabilities in and around Croydon.
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Guide 2022-23<br />
Opportunities for adults with learning disabilities in Croydon
Contents<br />
About <strong>Willow</strong><br />
The difference we make<br />
How to join <strong>Willow</strong><br />
Timetable 2022-<strong>2023</strong><br />
Term dates 2022-<strong>2023</strong><br />
Work experience<br />
Snack Attack catering<br />
Reception<br />
Community Champions<br />
Business Enterprise<br />
Education and training<br />
Business Administration<br />
Independent Living Skills<br />
Drama<br />
Schools Project<br />
Campaigning<br />
News and Events Planning<br />
Health and fitness<br />
Football Training<br />
Gentle Ramble<br />
Eat Out Group<br />
Further information<br />
Paying for your <strong>course</strong>(s)<br />
Where to find us<br />
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About <strong>Willow</strong><br />
We are a team of adults with learning disabilities working together<br />
to make Croydon better. We make decisions about what <strong>Willow</strong><br />
does and how it is run, and help run it.<br />
Our aim is for people with learning disabilities to have the<br />
opportunity to live happy and fulfilled lives. For them to be to be<br />
listened to, given the chance to learn and work, and be treated<br />
fairly and with respect by everyone.<br />
We achieve this through a mix of education, training, work<br />
experience, sports, and social events. Our support staff include<br />
qualified tutors and an occupational therapist.<br />
<strong>Willow</strong> is a social enterprise, this means that all the money we<br />
make is used to provide more opportunities for people with<br />
learning disabilities.<br />
Watch our YouTube video - https://bit.ly/<strong>Willow</strong>Soar<br />
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The difference we make<br />
Audrey<br />
Bryony<br />
Ese<br />
Operations assistant Director & assistant chef Admin assistant<br />
'I like helping other<br />
people, it makes me<br />
feel good inside. I feel<br />
happy when I'm around<br />
other people'<br />
'it's helped me meet<br />
new friends, it makes<br />
me happy to work for<br />
<strong>Willow</strong>'<br />
'I've learnt so much, I<br />
wouldn't be who I am<br />
today without <strong>Willow</strong>,<br />
my parents are so<br />
proud of me, I'm really<br />
happy I came'<br />
Khush<br />
Director & team leader<br />
'don't give up - look at<br />
me, I started Snack<br />
Attack and now I'm<br />
team leader and head<br />
chef - dreams can<br />
come true'<br />
Carol<br />
Volunteer<br />
'I feel valued at <strong>Willow</strong>.<br />
My mental health is<br />
much better. My<br />
children notice how<br />
much happier I am, and<br />
that makes them<br />
happy'<br />
Tofi<br />
Caretaker<br />
'I've learnt new<br />
different things, like<br />
cleaning and<br />
hoovering, and being<br />
in a team. It makes me<br />
feel proud, and people<br />
can be proud of me'<br />
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How to join <strong>Willow</strong><br />
Our team members<br />
help us make Croydon better<br />
communicate ideas and work together<br />
To become a member of our team you must<br />
have a learning disability<br />
be over 18 (or over 16 for football or rambling)<br />
Some of our members progress to become volunteers or have<br />
paid jobs with us.<br />
Cost of our sessions<br />
Our 2 or 2.5 hour sessions cost £4 each.<br />
Members pay for each 10 week term in advance = £40 per <strong>course</strong>.<br />
There are details on how to pay your fees at the back of the<br />
booklet.<br />
We also have 2 activities that are free to attend at the moment as<br />
we have been able to secure funding that pays for them in full -<br />
Tuesday morning - Gentle Ramble<br />
Thursday evening - Eat Out group (you pay for your meal)<br />
If you will need additional or 1 to 1 support please contact us for a<br />
chat. We may be able to provide a support package. There is a<br />
charge for this service which you may be able to fund through<br />
direct payments.<br />
To enrol for an activity or <strong>course</strong><br />
Please email Tanya to ask for an enrolment form -<br />
tanya@willowlearningforlife.org<br />
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Timetable 2022-<strong>2023</strong><br />
Tuesday<br />
morning<br />
Gentle Ramble<br />
10-12<br />
Wednesday<br />
morning<br />
Business<br />
Enterprise 10-3<br />
Football Fans<br />
10-12<br />
Wednesday<br />
afternoon<br />
Business<br />
Enterprise 10-3<br />
Community<br />
Champions 1-3<br />
Wednesday<br />
evening<br />
Football Training<br />
5-6<br />
Thursday<br />
morning<br />
Business Admin<br />
10-12.30<br />
Snack Attack<br />
10-3<br />
Drama<br />
10-12<br />
Thursday<br />
afternoon<br />
Independent<br />
Living Skills 1-3<br />
Snack Attack<br />
10-3<br />
Eat Out<br />
6-8<br />
Friday<br />
morning<br />
News & Events<br />
10-12.30<br />
Campaigning<br />
10-12.30<br />
Snack Attack<br />
9.30-3.30<br />
Reception<br />
9.30-10.30<br />
Friday<br />
afternoon<br />
Schools Project<br />
1-3<br />
Snack Attack<br />
9.30-3.30<br />
Saturday<br />
afternoon<br />
Football Training<br />
12-2<br />
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Term dates 2022-<strong>2023</strong><br />
Autumn term<br />
Mon 19 Sept 2022 – Sat 3 Dec 2022<br />
Half term: Mon 24 October – Fri 28 October 2022<br />
Spring term<br />
Mon 9 Jan <strong>2023</strong> – Sat 25 Mar <strong>2023</strong><br />
Half term: Mon 13 Feb – Fri 17 Feb <strong>2023</strong><br />
Summer term<br />
Mon 24 Apr <strong>2023</strong> – Fri 7 July <strong>2023</strong><br />
Half term: Mon 29 May – Fri 2 June <strong>2023</strong><br />
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Courses and activities<br />
Work experience<br />
Snack Attack catering<br />
Thursday 10.00am - 3pm<br />
Friday 9.30am - 3.30pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
Join our Snack Attack catering team running our<br />
pop up café. You will learn about health and safety<br />
and food hygiene, how to prepare and serve food,<br />
and how to handle money.<br />
(All day session = £80 a term)<br />
Reception*<br />
Friday 9.30am – 10.30pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
Learn how to be a receptionist.<br />
Work will include<br />
Welcoming visitors and helping them to sign in<br />
Checking appointments and showing visitors<br />
where to go<br />
Answering the phone<br />
Taking messages<br />
Giving out information leaflets and forms<br />
*There is a waiting list for this activity<br />
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Courses and activities<br />
Work experience<br />
Community Champions<br />
Wednesday 1pm - 3pm<br />
Meet in the community<br />
These sessions run all year round.<br />
Join our team of champions to help make Croydon<br />
great.<br />
Work will include<br />
Litter picking<br />
Working on our community allotment<br />
Helping cut back bushes in community green<br />
spaces<br />
Business Enterprise<br />
Wednesday 10am – 12pm / 1pm - 3 pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
Learn to make and package beautiful soaps to sell.<br />
You will learn about health and safety, making,<br />
pricing, and selling a product.<br />
You will be able to keep some of the soap you<br />
make.<br />
This <strong>course</strong> has a morning and an afternoon<br />
session, you can join us for 1 session or for both.<br />
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Courses and activities<br />
Education and training<br />
Business Administration<br />
Thursday 10am - 12.30pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
You will learn about administration policies, how to<br />
use Word and Excel, good telephone and message<br />
taking techniques, and working as a team.<br />
You will also help with <strong>Willow</strong>’s administration.<br />
Independent Living Skills<br />
Thursday 1-3pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
Helping you live more independently, students will<br />
decide what skills the class will concentrate on.<br />
Those skills could include<br />
healthy living<br />
keeping your home clean<br />
making friends<br />
managing money<br />
staying healthy<br />
travel training<br />
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Courses and activities<br />
Education and training<br />
Drama<br />
Thursday 10am - 12pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
Join in games, role plays and performances to build<br />
your confidence, learn to speak up for yourself,<br />
manage difficult situations, and work as a team.<br />
Schools Project<br />
Friday 1pm – 3pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
Help design and teach sessions for children in<br />
schools and online.<br />
You will teach children about the great things<br />
people with learning disabilities can do. And teach<br />
them to understand what it’s like to have a<br />
disability, and what they can do to help.<br />
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Courses and activities<br />
Education and training<br />
News and Events<br />
Friday 10am - 12.30pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
Learn how to research and write news reports<br />
about what is going on in Croydon. Your articles will<br />
be featured on our social media sites and in Club<br />
Soda’s Leisure Link magazine.<br />
This group also finds out what people with learning<br />
disabilities want to do and organises events<br />
including day trips and rambles.<br />
Campaigning<br />
Friday 10.00 – 12.30pm<br />
Portland House, Thornton Heath<br />
Have your say on the things that matter to you.<br />
You will feedback to the staff at Croydon University<br />
Hospital and Transport for London on what they do<br />
well and what needs improving, and help train them<br />
to be better.<br />
You can help decide what other things you want to<br />
make better and campaign for positive change.<br />
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Courses and activities<br />
Health and fitness<br />
Gentle Ramble<br />
Tuesday<br />
10am - 12 noon<br />
Keep fit, meet friends, and see some of our<br />
beautiful local parks.<br />
We meet at a tram stop each week and walk for 2<br />
hours.<br />
We also support people to safely run their own<br />
rambling groups.<br />
Free<br />
Football Training<br />
with the Croydon Knights<br />
Saturday<br />
Wednesday<br />
12noon - 2pm<br />
5pm - 6pm<br />
Croydon Sports Arena, South Norwood<br />
Practice football skills, work as a team and play<br />
friendly games.<br />
Follow the Croydon Knights on Instagram<br />
@croydonknightsfc<br />
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Courses and activities<br />
Health and fitness<br />
Eat Out group<br />
Every other Thursday evening<br />
Meet in Croydon<br />
Enjoy meals out with friends, trying the culturally<br />
diverse range of food available in Croydon.<br />
We also support people to safely run their own Eat<br />
Out events.<br />
Free to attend<br />
(you will pay for your own food when you go out)<br />
We also<br />
go on<br />
great<br />
days out!<br />
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Paying for your <strong>course</strong>(s)<br />
Terms<br />
To attend a <strong>course</strong>, you need to enrol and commit to attend every week, unless<br />
you are ill, isolating, or your tutor has given you permission not to come<br />
You need to pay in advance for the whole term<br />
If you stop coming to the <strong>course</strong>, you will not get a refund for that term<br />
If you miss sessions, you will not get a refund for sessions you do not attend<br />
Football Training is always paid weekly at the session.<br />
You do not have to pay for Football Training on weeks you cannot attend.<br />
Funding<br />
Some of our activities are paid for in full by grant project funding.<br />
This means the fees are paid by the funder and there is no cost to the participant.<br />
Volunteers<br />
If you show good skills on your <strong>course</strong> you may be offered a volunteer position.<br />
Volunteers do not pay for sessions and get a free meal from Snack Attack<br />
Payment Methods<br />
You can pay by<br />
cash (Please bring the correct amount for the <strong>course</strong>(s) you are paying for, in a<br />
sealed envelope. Please write your name and the <strong>course</strong> name(s) on the front.)<br />
debit or credit card (You can pay by card in person or by phone)<br />
bank transfer (BACS)<br />
To pay by BACS bank transfer -<br />
please contact your bank, or set up on online banking<br />
You will need our bank details -<br />
<strong>Willow</strong> Learning for Life Ltd<br />
Triodos Bank<br />
Sort code 16 58 10<br />
Account number 20779763<br />
Reference - please put the initial and surname of the person joining the <strong>course</strong><br />
For example, if Tanya made a payment her reference would be TRhodes<br />
(If your surname does not fit just add as many letters of your surname as you can)<br />
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Where to find us<br />
Portland House<br />
678 London Road<br />
Thornton Heath<br />
CR7 7HU<br />
Croydon Sports Arena<br />
Albert Road<br />
London<br />
SE25 4QL<br />
If you are interested in joining our team please contact Tanya<br />
07515 028 382 tanya@willowlearningforlife.org<br />
Thanks to our supporters, funders, and partners<br />
<strong>Willow</strong> Learning for Life Ltd, Community Interest Company<br />
Registered in England 27 and Wales no 10227582<br />
Registered address 31 Inglis Road Croydon CR0 6QW
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