Summer 2024

24/04/2024

We're coming towards the end of our Spring 2024 term. Our accredited classes will continue until late May. Some of our hobby classes have finished and others have recently begun.

Also in April we've hosted events here at the centre.

First was Safe TALK. This is a suicide awareness training session that we invited our staff, our learners, staff from other centres, and members of the public to attend. As suicide is an issue that for all its importance isn't discussed widely and can be difficult to understand. In particular, this area is known for a significant number of suicides.

The session was very well attended and the instructor gave a very informative presentation. Everyone who took part had high praise. It also was so important in making this subject one that people can feel more confident in talking about.

The day after, we then held an information workshop with the deaf/hard of hearing charity Chime. This event too we gave an invitation to anyone who was interested to attend. As this was not only for people who are deaf but also those close to them, such as family members or carers.

As part of the 2024 Lifelong Learning Festival, we participated in two events

The first was held at the Abundant Life Centre along with a number of other centres and groups from around the city displaying their own creative projects. Ours was a sampler where we brought a small number of the artwork created by our learners, the children of St Mary's national school and the pre-school.

A number of interviews were also recorded with the participants, questions on how they'd first gotten into art, what they enjoyed about it and if they had any advice for children also doing art. This was then edited into a several minute long recording that people could listen to and learn more.

Following this 'From Crayons To Canvas' was held here at the centre's largest room; we held an exhibition in full of the 40+ pieces we were lent by our young and experienced artists. People came throughout the day to see these, and it was especially wonderful to see the artists' reactions to seeing their work hanging on the walls.

We would also celebrate World Book Day on the 23rd with a presentation of books (kindly donated by the LCETB) to the students of the neighbouring national and pre-school. In the spirit of the day, we also gave our Christmas elf a makeover as Harry Potter.


As part of the 2024 Lifelong Learning Festival, we participated in two events:

The first was held at the Abundant Life Centre along with a number of other centres and groups from around the city displaying their own creative projects. Ours was a sampler where we brought a small number of the artwork created by our learners, the children of St Mary's national school and the pre-school.

A number of interviews were also recorded with the participants, questions on how they'd first gotten into art, what they enjoyed about it and if they had any advice for children also doing art. This was then edited into a several minute long recording that people could listen to and learn more.

Following this 'From Crayons To Canvas' was held here at the centre's largest room; we held an exhibition in full of the 40+ pieces we were lent by our young and experienced artists. People came throughout the day to see these, and it was especially wonderful to see the artists' reactions to seeing their work hanging on the walls.

We would also celebrate World Book Day on the 23rd with a presentation of books (kindly donated by the LCETB) to the students of the neighbouring national and pre-school. In the spirit of the day, we also gave our Christmas elf a makeover as Harry Potter.

This time next month almost all our classes will have come to an end, however we are holding our summer clubs again this year so we'll still enjoy having our learners visiting.

Arran Hamilton