LinkAble News

June 2015

We're very excited to welcome you to the first edition of LinkAble’s newsletter. We will be sending this out to you on the 1st of each month to provide you with up-to-date news on LinkAble as well as information about upcoming activities and events. We would welcome any feedback or comments you may have on our newsletter and its content; comments can be sent to info@linkable.org.uk.

There has been a buzz of excitement around LinkAble recently as our choir, The High Notes, performed at the Albert Hall on Tuesday 12th May, along with 1000 other Surrey residents, in "Magna Carta – The Freedom Game", a community opera commissioned by Surrey Arts to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta. Months of commitment and hard-work by our service users, staff and volunteers paid off in an incredible evening. Well done to all those involved!

On Saturday 25th July we will be holding an open day at The Link for service users, their families, partner organisations and anyone else who would like to know more about LinkAble and the support we provide to people with learning disabilities. The open day will be from 11am until 3pm with tours of The Link, staff on hand to talk to, activities and refreshments. We hope to see as many of you as possible there.

In the meantime, please enjoy LinkAble News!
The LinkAble Team

Under 18 Services News

- In case you've lost track of who is doing what, Jo Beven is now back in role as Under 18 Services Manager and she is your point of contact for all children / youth groups, activities and playschemes.

- Jo McConnell has changed roles and will now be running Linkafé for the remainder of 2015.

- Summer Playscheme plans are currently being finalised and we're very excited this year to be running in Camberley for the first time as well as Woking! All the information will be winging its way to you very shortly.

Adult Services News

- We're delighted to welcome Lesley Melling back into her role as Adult Services Manager.

- Mayhem is back at Quake on Fridays, 7-11pm! Upcoming dates are; Friday 26th June, Friday 11th September, Friday 23rd October and Friday 11th December. See you on the dance floor!

- College summer scheme will run on 8 days in August for those aged 18-25 years old. There are 15 spaces on each day so book quickly! Activities will be: Tuesday 4th LinkAble's Got Talent / Thursday 6th Picnic at Frensham Ponds / Tuesday 11th Art Project / Thursday 13th Three Peaks Activity Centre / Tuesday 18th Canal Walk And Sports / Thursday 20th August Thorpe Park / Tuesday 25th Water Sports / Thursday 27th BBQ. Contact Lesley for further information.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

National Volunteers Week - 1st-7th June

See below for a very special Linkafé offer for all our amazing volunteers!

Carers Week - 8th-14th June
Linkafé Day Out - Thursday 18th June

A community picnic in the park with games! The café will provide lunch for £3 per person. Please join us on the field near the park in Maybury from 1pm or meet in Linkafé from 12:30pm to walk over.

Mayhem - Friday 26th June
LinkAble Open Day - Saturday 25th July

More details to follow next month!

Employees & Volunteers

- It's not too late to apply for work or volunteering opportunities with us over the summer in our Children's, Youth or Adult playschemes. More details about the roles are available on our website. Click here or contact Shirley for an informal chat.

- We are particularly on the lookout for volunteer minibus drivers to help us get our groups or playschemes to venues safely and in a timely fashion! If you are aged over 25, hold a clean driving licence and are confident driving a larger vehicle, we'd love to hear from you whether you can manage to help often or just occasionally.

- Today is the first day of National Volunteering Week, a great opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who volunteers with us. You are very much appreciated! As a special thank you, we'd like to offer any volunteer visiting Linkafé this week a FREE hot drink and bit of cake.

What Else?

- The LinkAble team would like to bid a fond farewell to Andrea Ellison who has been with us as Adult Service Manager since last August, covering Lesley's maternity leave. Andrea was a great addition to the team and we're sorry to see her go. Andrea is now heading off for a travelling adventure to Italy. Arrivederci Andrea (get back!)

- Carers Week will run from 8th-14th June, an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. Find out more and get involved on their website, click here.

- Don't forget that in between newsletters, you can keep up to date with us on our website, Facebook, Twitter and more (see below.)

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