Purple Patch Arts are offering three bursary places to Calderdale adults with learning disabilities who live in the Ovenden, Park and Illingworth & Mixenden wards of the district. The weekly arts programme run by the social enterprise has recently received a funding boost from the Yorkshire Venture Philanthropy Fund with an award of £3,810. The workshops supported by this grant run from 10am until 3pm every Friday in a central venue in Hebden Bridge. Participants have already been exploring the values of the Olympic Games, wartime experiences and different kinds of friendships through drama, dance, music, literature and visual arts. Benefits for participants include increased independence, confidence, social and communication skills. The bursary places will cover the cost of a participant’s attendance from April until July 2013. For more information call 07725 041801, email info@purplepatcharts.org or visit www.purplepatcharts.org

Our weekly programmes have recently been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Community Learning, funded by the Skills Funding Agency. They said: “[Purple Patch Arts] use focused and timely support and intervention, match individual needs accurately and support independent learning. Staff generate high levels of enthusiasm for participation in, and commitment to, learning. Consequently, the development of learners’ skills and understanding is exceptional. ”

The Yorkshire Venture Philanthropy Programme has been set up by the Community Foundations in Leeds, Calderdale and South Yorkshire, working together with Key Fund. As well as access to substantial funds the programme provides a wrap-around package of support for new start and established social enterprises. The £1.4m programme is part-funded over three years by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).