Help Learning Disabled Adults Gain Independence

It’s that time of year and everyone, including PIP, is going back to school or getting back into the structure of work after a glorious summer break that just seems more relaxed, more chilled, sunnier (most of the time for us UK people)!

For many PIP students and families, holiday times don’t feel like that. They feel anxious that school/college is out, that the PIP timetable changes, that their children don’t have the structure, the activities, the social interaction that they have during normal term time.

This is why PIP doesn’t close over the holiday periods. We run a summer leisure programme for 5 weeks for students, which consists of activities at PIP, but many trips out into the community.

Together we explore London, visiting museums, galleries, leisure and sports activities. We eat together, enjoy the park, do things we have never done before and practice the skills we learn during the year at PIP.

We interact with the public, buy tickets, go shopping, count money for the shop keeper, ask questions, travel on public transport, chat to each other and read signs.

Most importantly we have FUN. And we enjoy the summer. It’s always over too soon.  But hey, now the new year is in full swing, the timetable is back and best of all…the PIP annual residential is just weeks away!

We challenge everyone to see, accept and value people with learning disabilities and urge you to continue to support our work.

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We are now in our last full term before the summer holidays, so everyone at PIP is busy planning our summer Leisure Programme. PIP runs Leisure Programmes during the time when schools and colleges close for the holidays (Christmas, Easter and Summer).  It is a time to take a break from our regular weekly timetable of activities and enjoy some different activities.  We focus on accessing the community, something that many of our students find difficult.

This is the time that everyone gets to practice the skills they learn throughout the year: money management, interacting with new people, making friends, travelling by public transport. Yet it is also a time for enjoyment, fun and experiencing new things. 

This Easter we visited a working farm. For many of our city based students – getting close to animals is something very new.  For example Jonti, was afraid of visiting the farm and not sure about seeing the animals.  However we prepared for the trip and as you can see from the photo he faced his fears and petted a goat! This was a real breakthrough and he can’t wait to go again.

We also visited a local London “hipster” bowling hangout All Star Bowling Lanes. Visiting somewhere like this is great fun and good practice for developing independence and social skills.

PIP’s always strives for the best for everyone who attends. We create quality opportunity and develop people to be more confident and independent individuals.

We challenge people to see, accept and value people with learning disabilities and urge you to continue to support our work.