KPAC has delivered a range of creative, innovative projects using flexible methods of delivery and providing learning opportunity in a safe and friendly environment.
Because of this, we have a very high retention and completion rate.
This is important to us.
Our projects are all about people, not outputs.
We want people to feel comfortable enough to be able to take responsibility for their own learning and to go on to other projects with more confidence in themselves.
To commission any of the following projects contact
KPAC on 07788892777
LEARNING FOR LIFE
This project provides a range of activities based around developing skills for independent living including money, shopping, travel, socialising safely, arts and crafts, digital skills. This programme gives people the opportunity to take part in learning activities together in a fun and safe environment. Currently this takes place on Tuesdays at 5.30pm at Kirkby Fire Station community room. For more information contact KPAC on 07788892777.
This is funded by National Lottery Awards For All.
INDEPENDANT Life Skills Project
This project is primarily aimed at disabled adults who need to learn better life skills to help them to live more independently from their parents and carers. Some of the topics covered include: communication skills, working in groups, socialising safely, using social media safely, travel training, presentation skills, budgeting and money management.
DIGITAL INCLUSION PROJECT
This project provided tablets, sim cards and training to over 40 individuals and families to help our service users stay connected to their friends and family and to ensure no one is left behind in the modern digital world, This project funded by Liverpool City Region, is about bridging the digital divide, by improving digital skills, enhancing lives and stimulating economic growth.
Employability Courses
This training programme is designed to be interactive and to build on the potential skills that learners bring with them. There is a learner involvement ethos as well as providing many transferable skills needed to prepare for life in the workplace. The training develops and encourages ownership and empowerment through a series of workshops which include the following core training outcomes:
Communication Skills
Assertiveness Skills
Working as a team
Action Planning and goal setting
In work benefits
How work will change your day
Appropriate behaviour in the workplace
Access to work
Friendships and relationships in work
Rights and responsibilities
Health and Safety
Timekeeping
Budgeting
Respect in the workplace
CVs and portfolios
Personal statements
Travel training
Presentation skills
Interview skills
Family Digital Photography Project
The Family Digital Photography project took place in spring of 2010. In total there were 6 families involved. These families were from the Huyton and Kirkby districts of the borough, and all would be considered disadvantaged and excluded for a variety of reasons, but mainly because each family had at least one disabled adult and a young carer in it. The project was commissioned by Knowsley MBC Children’s services. The aim of the project was to engage families with young carers into learning using photography as a creative medium to do this. The topics covered in the weekly course included: Features of a digital camera How to take a photography Composing a photograph Using the functions of a digital cameras Uploading photographs onto a computer Basic digital editing of photography using a computer Saving and printing photographs Creating albums Sharing knowledge The course also included transferable skills including: Communication Organisational skills IT skills Presentation skills Team work Listening skills The course took place in KPAC’s training room in Huyton. In order to ensure accessibility to the course, transport was arranged and paid for by the project. This proved to be an important element in designing the project.
Family Learning Through Growing Places Project
The Growing Places project was a transformation learning project and was based around allotments and community gardens. In total, 4 sites were developed in the Borough including 2 allotment sites and 2 community gardens with raised growing beds and flat growing plots. 2 sites had poly tunnels, classrooms and washing/toilet facilities installed and electricity. The target was for 30 people to be engaged, the actual was over 130. Because of the variety of activity, local people engaged for the type of activity they were interested in, for example, some people where interested in the land development and landscaping and building, where others were interested in planting and growing and others in hanging baskets. This project left a great legacy. The allotments and gardens are still being run and maintained by members of the community, who are still passing on what they learn to others.
Travel Training Project
Encouraging vulnerable and disadvantaged adults, young people and children, how to travel independently to places where they needed to go, this could be a workplace, college, learning centre, health centre, leisure centre or town centre. This included journey planning, timetables, health and safety, behaviour, how to attract the attention of the driver, what to do if you get lost, looking out for landmarks and where there are wheelchair facilities. This project is all about giving people more independence and widening their boundries in a safe and confident manner. The course took place in KPAC’s training room in Huyton. In order to ensure accessibility to the course, transport was arranged and paid for by the project. This proved to be an important element in designing the project.
Personal Community Development Learning
This was commissioned by Knowsley Community College to deliver a series of programmes targeting disadvantaed adults. This was especially targeted to those wishing to progress at or into work and aimed to secure progression of 50% of engaged adults. The programme centred on working collaboratievly with other organisations in Knowsley including the Adult Learning Partnership. KPAC delivered a range of activites for this programme that included accessbile sports, disability awareness training, and financial inclusions programmes.
Health and Wellbeing project
KPAC has delivered a number of health and wellbeing projects to the community with the aim of encouraging children, young people and adults to take part in sporting activities, lead a healthier and more active lifestyle, eat more healthily and make positive lifestyle changes. Over 70 people each year took part in various activities that helped them to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing. Also, as part of this programme, we take people out to visit other local provision, such as the local leisure centres, so they may feel more comfortable and confident if they were to visit other provision at a future date without the support of KPAC.
Neighbourhood Learning In Deprived Communities
KPAC has delivered a series of courses through this programme over the last many years, examples of the kind of courses delivered includes; journey planning, disability awareness training, accessible sports, financial inclusion, life skills for independent living, alternative therapy, history and culture projects, photography, IT, team building, presentation skills, employability skills, and many many more. This programme has enabled KPAC to extend the range of services it delivers in the community and has been defined by the need in the community. This programme is designed through consultation with service users and other community members to evaluate what the community would like to see delivered, where and how.
Home and Personal Safety Awareness
This programme included activities to support families in safeguarding their home and themselves and topics included deterrents against burglary, alarms and locks, leaving the home secure, bogus callers and being secure while inside your home, especially for young adults and adults with learning disabilities. The course also included self defence techniques, which taught young people how to avoid confrontation and the basics of getting out of a potentially dangerous situation quickly. The programme also included issues around safe dating, safe use of social media and socialising in a safe environment. KPAC is currently working with a group of young people, most with learning disabilities, around disability hate crime. This is an awareness raising project that will encourage young people to talk to other young people about what disability hate crime is, why it should not be accepted as a way of life, and how to go about reporting it. Also it will help young people to understand what happens when a hate crime is reported and what the processes and procedures are for this. Another aspect of the project is for young people to talk to other young people about what it feels like to be bullied and victimised.
History and Culture Projects
KPAC has delivered a number of culture and history projects. The aim of this programme is to give people the opportunity to develop softer skills including organisational skills, communication skills, motivational skills, active listening skills and interpersonal skills. The aim of the project is to take each learner on a journey away from classroom environment and out into the exciting world of Knowsley and Liverpool museums, art galleries and libraries. Each participant has the opportunity to go on day visits to attractions and areas of interest in Knowsley and Liverpool. Learners have the opportunity to learn about Liverpool’s middle age history and Knowsley’s Viking ancestors amongst others. Knowsley residents, particularly disadvantaged groups have the opportunity to broaden their local knowledge and skills base. The project provides learners with the opportunity to visit local and historical sites, and communicate their learning by incorporating photography. The project aims to encourage more and different people into learning, especially those who would not usually participate due to lack of confidence in taking first step and lack of information. Learners keep a diary of their experiences including photographs, leaflets, tickets, information about places visited etc. Skills developed include the following: Planning Communication Money skills Travel skills Photography skills ICT skills Record keeping Team working Organisational skills
Sports Projects
The aim of these programmes is to improve the health and wellbeing of local families through accessible sporting activities including rebound therapy, new age kurling and boccia. Rebound Therapy is the use of trampolines to provide beneficial and therapeutic exercise and recreation for people with a wide range of physical abilities. This type of activity is particularly beneficial to people with sensory impairments and those with learning disabilities. Rebound Therapy is not gymnastic trampolining or a sport. Rebound Therapy is used to facilitate movement, promote balance, promote increase or decrease in muscle tone, promote relaxation and leisure, promote sensory integration, improve fitness and exercise, and to improve communication skills. New age kurling and boccia are team sports that have been adapted for people with different abilities and skills including wheel chair users and people who have other mobility difficulties. People of all ages and abilities can take part in this type of activity and allows them to move within their mobility range and develop new skills. Accessible sports also help people to improve their social skills, team working skills and to gain confidence. Feedback from these courses has proven to us that this type of accessible sporting activity is beneficial to families as they have good fun taking part in an activity together where they may not have this opportunity otherwise. In addition to this, we encourage people to access other local provision, and, for example have taken groups to the local leisure centre to visit so they may feel more comfortable and confident at a future date when they visit without the support of KPAC. All of the above activities are risk assessed to ensure the health and safety of participants and of staff. Equipment is serviced regularly, new venues are risk assesses and staff are fully trained and experienced. All staff are CRB checked. Each outdoor activity is risk assessed prior to any planned activity. Staff involved will visit venues and travel on the planned routes to assess risk and accessibility. All participants’ needs are taken into considerations, particularly those with access needs. Any issues are discussed and alternatives and contingencies planned.
Training in the workplace
KPAC has delivered a number of workplace training courses for the private, public and voluntary sector. These courses have included: Social Enterprise Training Disability Awareness Training Using Social Media to market your organisation How to be a productive management committee member
