Life Skills Academy
We offer a once a week after-school and overnight Life Skills programme to children with learning disabilities between the ages of 12 and 18. Young people who may not meet the funding criteria of Social Services will have the opportunity to learn and reinforce life skills during school term. It is our ambition to teach children with learning disabilities a variety of life skills in a way and with such continuity that they will become second nature and habits of a lifetime. This in turn will improve the child's chances of leading an independent life, of maintaining a sense of self and self-confidence, and of embracing a rewarding and active role in his or her community.
If you're interested in this programme, please contact us on 01803 840744.
Small Steps lead to Giant Leaps
It's graduation day. A young man goes up to receive his certificate from Councillor David C. Horsburgh, Mayor of Totnes. He's proud of his achievements and chats happily, relating all that he's been doing at the Life Skills Academy. This includes cooking meals, having fun with friends, sno tubing , and travelling on the train and bus. What a difference the Academy has made! A term before, this shy teenager had felt that he was no good at anything. His self esteem was at rock bottom. Initially, he had been fairly unsure about coming to the Life Skills Academy as spending a night away from home was a big step for someone who did not have friends nearby and sleepovers hadn't yet been a part of his life.
However the cheerful atmosphere, being with friends, and plenty of one-to-one help if needed, soon made it all great fun and learning became easy.
He discovered that not only was he was a good cook, but that his meals were enjoyed so much by other students that they even asked for more! Learning about money became an adventure as he went to cafes with his friends, bought food to cook and asked to purchase his own ticket on the train. Ordering food to eat and finding out what time the next bus was coming all become less scary with a group of mates. Sometimes he was filled with confidence at discovering HE could help THEM. OK, key workers Mary Jo and Caroline were around as well, but they were good at keeping a discreet distance, and it was reassuring to know that they were nearby if anything went pear shaped! And sometimes things did go wrong -" for instance he asked for the wrong size shoes at bowling. At one time this would have destroyed his self confidence and ruined his evening. However with a little encouragement and the support of a friend, he then asked for the right size and ended up becoming quite friendly with the very attractive young lady behind the counter! Quite a boost to the ego indeed! Another time he became distraught at the cinema when his ticket was torn in half, until he realised that everyone else was cool with this as it was a normal occurrence. By the end of the term he obviously felt like any other teenager out with his mates, relaxed, happy and able to cope with most situations when out and about.
This young man had taken a huge leap towards becoming an independent, socially competent person with an active and fulfilling life ahead of him. Just one success story from the Life Skills Academy.