Getting ready to bring a sensory service to Greater Lincolnshire

The latest developments from the
learning disability charity
Getting ready
to bring a
sensory service
to Greater
Lincolnshire
Issue 58 - Summer 2016
www.linkage.org.uk
Last month’s Students’ Reunion at the Linkage
College Weelsby Campus, Grimsby. By Artist-inResidence, Philip Williams.
The Linkage student reunion is taking place at Weelsby Hall in
Grimsby. Lots of people have gathered together for a catch up.
Above: Valerie with Luda Balan from East
Yorkshire - an ArtBeat prizewinner
This issue of Linkage News reflects a
busy first half of our 40th anniversary
year.
We started 2016 with the ArtBeat
Awards, celebrating the art and
photography talents of young people
with additional needs across the
region. 23 school students and Linkage
clients won prizes through their amazing
creativity, from photographs of wildlife
to a memorable painting of a cupcake
factory. Our thanks go to Freshney
Place Shopping Centre at Grimsby and
the Society for All Artists for their support.
See pages 7-10.
Probably the biggest achievement so
far was the first-ever Linkage College
students’ reunion. The Weelsby Campus
at Grimsby was the focal point of
the celebration, as we launched the
Linkage Graduates’ Association. More
than 60 people have already signed
up – it shows what a special place
Linkage has had in these people’s
hearts.
Still to come in this busy year is the big,
40th anniversary Musical Extravaganza
by our clients from across Lincolnshire
who will take to the stage at the
Embassy Theatre, Skegness on Friday
17th June (see page 5).
Enjoy the summer!
Valerie Waby
Chief Executive
I remember when I first came to Weelsby Campus thirty
years ago. I have come a long way since then, and I
now have a job.
I’ve joined the Linkage Graduates’ Association for free.
I’ll buy a mug and raise money for them.
I remember the Linkage Football Team! We played against the
police in the summer of 1986. It was a brilliant day for us all!
A team of five staff is now in place, led by
Niz Smith, with Kate Benson as outreach
worker at the Toynton Campus, Debbie Taylor
at Grimsby, Glen Hilton as the driver and
administrator, and Katie Upson as the graphic
designer.
SENSORY SERVICE IS
FLAGSHIP AT COUNTY SHOW
L
inkage’s £375,000 Lottery-funded
sensory library project, featuring
a distinctive purple bus, will be
launched at this year’s Lincolnshire
Show.
The Linkage Sensory Project, featuring the
purple single-decker, will take centre stage at
Stand 7-09, on June 22nd and 23rd. Not only
will the bus be part of the new initiative but
the project will also be offering a library of free
resources from three sites – Lincoln, Grimsby
and Toynton All Saints near Spilsby.
Niz says: “It’s very exciting for us to give the bus
and project the full launch at the Lincolnshire
Show. It’s our 40th birthday gift to the area
and we will want to talk to as many groups as
we can of all ages.”
The grant from the Big Lottery Fund Reaching
Communities initiative means the team will
be on the road to events and venues across
Greater Lincolnshire.
The latest custom-built motorbike, created
as part of Functional Skills lessons by
students and lecturer Karl Crawford at
the Toynton Campus, is also due to be
displayed on the stand. This will then go to
the National Youthbike Competition near
Lincoln.
Pictured above: Sue Hall from Project Linus UK,
which is working with the Sensory Project
The memory of Linkage College graduate
Matthew Brocklesby is to live on. The 19 year old,
who left the Weelsby Campus in 2015, died in
February from leukaemia.
Matthew was a
To celebrate his life, his parents are to
young man who
sponsor the new Sunshine Award at
made us smile the Linkage Graduation, which takes
he was beautiful
place this year at Grimsby Minster on
inside and out.
Thursday 21st July. The common room
at the Campus will be renamed The
Brocklesby Room as it was one of Matthew’s favourite places.
His mum, Amanda says: “Matthew was a young man who made
us smile - he was beautiful inside and out. As we would like to
keep Matthew’s memory alive, we have decided that we would
like to sponsor an award each year at Linkage graduation and the ‘Sunshine’ Award is a fitting
tribute for our lovely smiling son. He brought happiness to a great many people and to see
him progress like he did at Linkage College was lovely.”
A collection at Matthew’s funeral raised £395 which will be donated to the Students’ Union.
www.linkage.org.uk
Linkage News | Summer 2016 3
They came from far and wide to relive their
education memories as Linkage College
staged its first-ever students’ reunion. More
than 260 people made the journey at
the end of May to the nine-acre Weelsby
Campus in Grimsby, with people travelling
from South Wales, Kent and Middlesbrough.
They toured an exhibition of the story of
Linkage, including displays of Linkage
News which was launched in 2000, plus
old prospectuses, promotional videos and
newspaper cuttings dating back to the
70s. Some 60 people signed up to the new
Linkage Graduates’ Association.
More on linkage.org.uk.
Top left: Jane Arnold, Mary Havercroft and Eileen
MacKenzie, the original Weelsby catering team
Middle left: Amy Lutton with one of her paintings
Bottom left: Students looking through old photos
Above: Paul Greenbank, now a bus driver in
London, remembering his footballing days.
4 Linkage News | Summer
2016
www.linkage.org.uk
Linkage clients and friends prepare
for a colourful show
Brass, ukuleles and Abba will come
together on a Skegness stage as Linkage
celebrates its 40th anniversary with one
of its biggest shows in years.
A cast of more than 200 from the Adult Skills
Performing Arts Group, based at the Toynton
All Saints campus, will welcome guests to
join them in a Musical Extravaganza at the
Embassy Theatre for one night only on Friday
17th June.
There will be lively sing-a-long fun with the
choir, Linkage Voices, and the Horncastle
Ukulele Group with numbers such as Let’s
Twist Again. Other groups on the stage
include Zoot, a five-piece function band
with a female vocalist, the Beacon Primary
Academy Choir, The Biz Theatre School and
the dance act, Lowndes Lovelies. A group
of seven students from Linkage College’s
Weelsby Campus at Grimsby and three staff
will perform the O’Jays song, ‘Love Train’,
together with Makaton sign language.
Angela Freebury-Fisher, the performing arts
The show will end with tribute band, ‘Abba
instructor, says: “We’re celebrating the music
Salute’.
of the decades and bringing Linkage together
for this special show with talented performers
Tickets are £12 from the Embassy Box Office
from across the county.”
on 01507 613100 or visit www.embassytheatre.
co.uk. The show starts at 7pm.
The variety show will open with Banovallum
Brass and Linkage performing Amarillo.
JOIN US
JOIN US
• Linkage events - ‘early bird’
booking
• Keep in touch with other
graduates
• Share your stories with others
• Dedicated Graduates section
of Linkage website
• Support Linkage by
volunteering
• Help raise funds for us
To join or further information contact The Transition Team
Linkage College, Weelsby Campus, Weelsby Road, Grimsby, DN32 9RU
01472 372381 transition@linkage.org.uk
Staff at Lincolnshire’s only openair farming museum, where three
Linkage clients are gaining work
experience, say it is a “win-win”
opportunity for both organisations.
Anthony Spittles helps in grounds
maintenance, Susan Ford assists in the
café and Charlotte Hampson works in the
shop and as a tour guide at the Village
Church Farm, Skegness. The social history
museum, which is spread over two acres
of gardens, is largely staffed by volunteers.
Anthony helps gardener Peter Meeds with
the cottage garden and vast lawns while
Susan helps clean up tables and makes
hot drinks. Charlotte has been donning
period costume and promoting the
attraction to visitors. All three, who started
in November, have gained their skills and
confidence through the services Linkage
offers.
Sue Shelford of the Farm says: “They’ve
all settled in well and the arrangements
with Linkage work in everyone’s favour. We
need support for all our work areas and
the Linkage trio are doing a great job. The
work is different every time the three come
to the Farm and they all get on well with
both the team and visitors.”
Top: Anthony Spittles
Above: Susan Ford
Shop Till You Drop
Introducing the latest Linkage
trustees: John Cawdell is a
chartered accountant and selfemployed business consultant.
Dr Jeremy Pearce is a senior lecturer
at the University of Lincoln. He has
senior management experience in
the public and private sectors.
6 Linkage News | Summer
2016
Linkage is to operate its own chain of shops.
The stores will specialise in vintage and shabby
chic goods and clothing. They will also sell the
high-quality ceramics, woodcrafts and glassware
made by Linkage’s clients.
David Spencer has been recruited as charity
shops development co-ordinator. Anyone wanting
to de-clutter their wardrobe for Linkage should call
01790 752499 or email info@linkage.org.uk.
www.linkage.org.uk
Pull-out and keep guide to the 2016 competition.
Talented young artists and
photographers have been celebrated
in the 2016 Linkage ArtBeat Awards.
The competition, which was held this year
to mark Linkage’s 40th anniversary, invited
students with additional needs from schools
across the East Midlands and Yorkshire to
submit their work. A separate competition for
Linkage clients and students was also run. The
winners of both were announced at a special
ceremony at Lincoln College, attended by
the city’s MP Karl McCartney and the then
Mayor, Councillor Andrew Kerry. More than
200 entries were received, double last year’s
number.
There was prize money of £225 in each
category, with additional prizes this year.
Freshney Place Shopping Centre, Grimsby,
sponsored two celebration awards for
Linkage’s birthday, while the Society for All
Artists presented the top-performing schools
with £50 in vouchers.
The winning work can be seen on the next
three pages.
Linkage would like to thank the judges for
their support: Art – Phil White, BBC Radio
Humberside; Simon Cummings, Linkage;
John Hope-Hawkins, Society for All Artists.
Photography - Anna Draper, Lincolnshire Echo;
Chris Vaughan, freelancer; Amanda Austin
and Michelle Chevins, Freshney Place.
Top prize winners:
L-R: Kyle Preston,
www.linkage.org.uk
Steph Horstead & Adam Turner
Above: Liam Wallace
Right: Rhys Avery
Linkage News | Summer 2016 7
World War II Underground by Lili-Mae
Jordan, Cambridge Park Academy,
Grimsby
London Underground
in the War by Natalie
Brown, Cambridge
Park Academy,
Grimsby
World War II by
Cohan Bateman,
Cambridge Park
Academy, Grimsby
Red Leaf by Elliott Green,
Giles Academy, Boston
Caterpillar Valley
Cemetery Cross by
Bradley Morris, Ashmount
School, Loughborough
Salad Items by Rhys Avery,
Giles Academy, Boston
Forgotten Souls by Michael Coney,
Cambridge Park Academy, Grimsby
Party Poppers by
Ewan Whiteley,
Branston
Community
Academy, nr Lincoln
Picasso Self-Portrait
by Jake Farrow, Aegir
Specialist Academy,
Gainsborough
The Kiss by Jack Payne, The Lady Jane
Franklin School, Spilsby
Crossfire by Joel
James, St George’s
Academy, Sleaford
Celebration by Richard
Love, The Lady Jane
Franklin School, Spilsby
Abstract Leaf by Luda
Balan, Woldgate School
& Sixth Form College,
Pocklington
Tree Print by Harrison
Taylor, Springhead School,
Scarborough
Kyle’s Cupcake Factory of the 40th Birthday
Party by Kyle Preston, St Bernard’s School, Louth
Owl by Liam Wallace, Branston
Community Academy, nr Lincoln
Celebrating Nature by
Liam Wallace, Branston
Community Academy,
nr Lincoln
Landscape by
Daniel Haynes, Aegir
Specialist Academy,
Gainsborough
French Town by Steph Horstead
American Flag by
Oscar Burgess
The Spiders’ Life in Web
by Bernafette Scrafton
Sunset by Adam Turner
Birds by Steph Horstead
Plane by Steph Horstead
10 Linkage News | Summer
2016
www.linkage.org.uk
Linkage
Gallery
Grimsby Town fans Phil Houghton
and Jack Franklin enjoyed a
student visit to Wembley only to
see the Mariners lose 1-0 to FC
Halifax Town in the FA Vase. Still,
the Mariners will now enjoy life in
League 2 from next season after
promotion the week before.
A special garden and summer
house, dedicated to the memory of
Sarah Daniels, has been unveiled at
Livingstone Court, Mablethorpe.
Sarah died suddenly last summer and
her parents wanted to provide this
special feature.
Natalie Watson (left) and Suzanne
Cawley enjoy the garden, which
includes a summerhouse and solar
features.
The sounds of City of Lincoln Brass Band were
combined with a heritage quiz as the Boultham Park
Restoration Project celebrated the 87th anniversary of
the Lincoln park becoming a public open space.
The lottery-backed project is a joint venture between
Linkage and the City of Lincoln Council. Other
summer activities planned include tennis and music:
www.boulthampark.co.uk.
Toynton Campus students will be facing the National
Youthbike Competition again in June, hoping for a
third year of trophy success.
Building a motorbike has proved a winner in teaching
Functional Skills – this was how the custom-built bike,
called Rust Rat, looked a few weeks ago.
Good luck to the team for the Youthbike weekend,
24th - 26th June, Sir William Robertston Academy,
near Lincoln.
www.linkage.org.uk
Linkage News | Summer 2016 11
THE FLUME IS BACK!
The online lottery for tickets to
take part in the dramatic Lincoln
summer waterslide is open. Thrillseekers can zoom the flume down
Steep Hill on Sunday 17th July.
Organised by the Rotary Club
of Lincoln Colonia and charity
partner, Linkage, the Flume will take
people on a 100-yard exhilarating
experience. Lottery tickets are
available at £3 each and the draw
will take place on 3rd July. Up to
850 places will be available for the
ride, which will be specially built
on the day. Book your tickets here:
lincolnflume.co.uk.
Linkage College student Jordan
Shepherd has picked up a cheque
for £550.40 from the Lincolnshire
Co-op foodstore at Coniston
Avenue, Grimsby.
Linkage received the donation after
being a Community Champion.
The money was handed over by
the Co-op’s Caroline Gittens.
Parent Sue Parkinson was put through her paces
when chosen for ITV’s Tough Mum Challenge
on Good Morning Britain. So far she has raised
£687 which will be matched by her employer,
Eastern Airways. She is shown with her support
party, including Linkage student, Jake (left).
Sue is also organising a Stars in their Eyes Night in
Scunthorpe on 9th July.
12 Linkage News | Summer
2016
www.linkage.org.uk
Emily Oliver (left)
completed the 2016
London Marathon in
3 hours 57 minutes
and raised a stunning
£6,000 for Linkage.
Emily, the daughter
of Linkage Chairman,
Michael Oliver, said
of her experience:
“I am so happy, it
couldn’t have gone
any better on the
day and I absolutely
loved it!”
More in Fundraising
Good luck to Alice Corbally and
cousin Rachel Barton who are
climbing Ben Nevis in June in support
of Linkage. Alice’s brother, Mark, is
a student at the Grimsby campus.
They have raised nearly £600 so far.
Linkage thanks Steve Nettleton
from Grimsby for his support, raising
more than £800 through cycling
events this Spring.
Excited students at Linkage College have
been testing out new trikes which have
been donated to the Linkage campuses.
Six adaptive tricycles have been given to Linkage
by the Champneys Charitable Foundation,
part of the company which operates healthy and
beauty spas in the UK. Champneys co-owner
and chairman, Dorothy Purdew (right), handed
them over to the students at the Linkage College
Weelsby Campus in Grimsby.
The donation came as a result of a charity
nomination by parent, Lynda Najmaldin.
Linkage’s Adult Skills Service at Quayside,
Grimsby, has received a £5,000 grant
from the Santander Foundation for new IT
equipment including cameras.
www.linkage.org.uk
Meanwhile, the Quayside team (above)
has raised £400 with some determined
sponsored walking across the Humber Bridge.
Linkage News | Summer 2016 13
Silverware has once again come
back to Linkage following the
annual Rotary Disability Games.
More than 80 clients pitted their talents
against hundreds of other people with
disabilities from across Yorkshire and
Lincolnshire at The Pods in Scunthorpe.
They were part of the Woodhall Warriors,
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Woodhall
Spa, which has looked after the Linkage
delegation at the Games for many years.
The surprise performer was Anthony Spittles from
Skegness, who revived his teenage snooker playing
days to take the title.
Charlotte Hampson won her swimming category
for the second year running, whilst Valerie Craig was
on target in darts and there was success in weightlifting. Meanwhile, Suzanne Cawley was a runner-up
in swimming, while Georgia King narrowly lost out in
the finals of kurling.
John Ranshaw from the Rotary Club said: “What a
great day for the Woodhall Warriors - they really did
us proud. Everyone put so much into making the
event such a brilliant success.”
Top: Anthony Spittles
Above right: Medals for all
Middle: Steven Gough
Right: Matthew Morris
14 Linkage News | Summer
2016
www.linkage.org.uk
UNBEATEN RECORD GIVES MIDTOWN TOP HONOURS
The top sides - Kieran Robson (2nd right) holds Midtown’s trophy while Travis
Brown (2nd left) celebrates for Grimsby Town Disabilities
Gainsborough-based Midtown FC
has been crowned the top side in
Lincolnshire’s disability football league
after sealing an unbeaten run all
season.
The Lincolnshire Ability Counts League,
sponsored by Linkage for a third year, saw an
invincible Midtown win the Championship,
with Grimsby Town Disabilities 2nd Team
clinching the League Division title.
The League, which brings all teams together
for a series of tournaments during the season,
features sides from Scunthorpe, Grimsby,
Lincoln, Boston, Skegness, Spilsby and
Gainsborough. It is run by the Lincolnshire
Orby FC - first winners of the new
Sporting Shield
www.linkage.org.uk
Football Association.
The dedication of Orby FC, a team organised
by Boulevard Day Care, was recognised
in the annual awards ceremony, held at
the Grimsby Masonic Hall in May. The club
received the first Sporting Shield Award for
dedication to the League, despite results not
going their way. In a league double, Orby’s
manager Louise Polydore, was named this
year’s winner of the Nigel Hoggarth Award for
contribution to disability football.
The majority of games next season will take
place in Lincoln.
Louise Polydore
Linkage News | Summer 2016 15
Musical Extravaganza
College Prom
Friday 17th June, Embassy
Theatre, Skegness, 7pm
Saturday 16th July
Weelsby Campus, Grimsby
Big musical show to celebrate
40 years of Linkage
Tickets £12: 01507 613100
Call Marie Barker on 01472
372324 for more details.
Lincolnshire Show
Lincoln Flume
Wednesday/Thursday
22nd-23rd June
Sunday 17th July
Steep Hill, Lincoln
Launching the new sensory
library bus
Visit lincolnflume.co.uk for
details. Also see page 12
Philip Barnatt Golf Day
Ruby Red Ball
Friday 1st July
Blankney Golf Club
Saturday 12th November
Kenwick Park Hotel, Louth
Raising money for Boultham
Park Project in Lincoln. Places
still available.
Dancing, raffle, auction and
dinner. Tickets £35
Diable Golf Day
Santa Fun Run
Friday 1st July
Cleethorpes Golf Club
Places still available. Call Gill
Curwen on 01472 372342.
Unless otherwise shown contact
Sunday 11th December
fundraising@linkage.org.uk or
Lincoln
01522 503190 for more details. Come and join Team Linkage!
www.linkage.org.uk
Contact Us
Linkage News:
College:
Tony Barker, Linkage, West Central Business Park, 01472 372311
Runcorn Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QP
transition@linkage.org.uk
01522 503188
Care:
tony.barker@linkage.org.uk
01472 372306
residential@linkage.org.uk
General Enquiries:
Linkage
Toynton Hall, Toynton All Saints, Spilsby, PE23 5AE Employment Services:
01790 755068
01790 752499
supportedemployment@linkage.org.uk
info@linkage.org.uk
www.linkage.org.uk
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