Page 12 - link magazine

12 swindonlink.com • December 2009
Mayor unveils new Learning for Life education centre

The Mayor of Swindon officially opened new offices used by Learning for Life at Basepoint Business Centre in Westlea on 20 November.
He, with South Swindon MP Courses range from communica- that we can create an individual arrive cowering in the corner and
Anne Snelgrove, met tutors and tion skills, using numbers in every- programme to suit them. Learning leave with heads held high.”
users and learnt about the range day life, introduction to the internet for Life is about empowerment - Bruce Clarke said he was very
of courses for disabled adults and and email, life skills, stress manage- giving people the skills to develop impressed by the way Learning
carers including lone parents. ment and relaxation, counselling, and move on.” for Life had set up at Basepoint.
The organisation is possibly improving personal effectiveness, Tutor and psychologist Alan “When I was manager of the Swin-
the only one in the country which learning to relax with arts and crafts, MacGregor said, “people are valued don Learning Partnership with the
provides training, education and tai chi and pain relief. for who they are. Learning for Life borough council we were able to
personal development opportuni- L4L manager Nalni Sorr said, is not about treating symptoms or make a major investment in learn-
ties for adults with a range disabili- “each person’s needs are identified meeting targets. It’s about dealing ing for people with disabilities. This
ties, whether it be physical and/or and then addressed in a holistic and with the whole person and working is an excellent example of how the
social anxiety, depression, self harm friendly atmosphere. Many poten- together positively to move forward independent voluntary sector can
or the results of abuse. tial clients perhaps don’t recognise in their learning. deliver imaginative, innovative
“The mutual support amongst learning initiatives.”
the learners is remarkable. People www.L4LSwindon.co.uk

Basepoint backs MS therapy centre

The first of two payments totalling £10,000 to match fundraising by
the Swindon Therapy Centre for Multiple Sclerosis was made by
Basepoint Business Centre in Westlea in November.
The grant will be directed at conditions like ME, Motor Neurone
developing work with children in Disease, Parkinson’s disease and
need of oxygen therapy when the stroke. More recently people with
MS centre moves to refurbished cerebral palsy and autism as well
premises on Westmead Drive, as other conditions involving brain
Westlea. injury have also improved.
The MS Centre was hoping to Studies in the USA show that
have completed the £800,000 re- by using oxygen under pressure,
furbishment of Bradbury House children with cerebral palsy im-
in order to hold its annual general prove faster than with conventional
meeting and Christmas party in therapies.
The mayor David Wren, centre, with L4L manager Nalni Soar, far left, next to December, but delays in the Jackie added, “at the Swindon
Anne Snelgrove MP, and users, tutors and supporters in the art therapy studio manufacture of the purpose built Therapy Centre we have been treat-
oxygen chamber means a launch ing two children who have brain tu-
in mid-January. mors which could only be partially

Jackie Wray receiving the Basepoint donation from assistant manager Lyn Chapman
“It’s a bit of a blow not to be able removed. Both of them have shown
to open for our Christmas party, definite signs of improvement in
but we’ve settled on Friday 22 and their physical condition as observed
Saturday 23 January to launch the by the chamber operators as well as
new centre, whether the oxygen their parents.
chamber is ready for use or not,” Basepoint Business Centres are
said centre manager Jackie Wray. owned by the ACT Foundation
“The donation from Basepoint is which provides grants to individu-
very exciting and will help us in- als and other charities, principally in
crease opportunities to work with the UK, with the aim of enhancing
parents and children.” the quality of life for people in need,
High Dosage Oxygen Therapy with particular emphasis on people
(HDOT) is beneficial to people with mental and physical disability.
suffering from mainly neurological www.theactfoundation.co.uk

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