On Day 257 of my BRIT 2012 mile
walk I was hosted by Beechwood college http://www.beechwoodcollege.co.uk/
Beechwood College based in
Sully, Vale of Glamorgan is an extraordinary residential organisation that
supports Autistic youths.
Students can be day students,
weekly boarders or have 38 week or 52 week placements. Beechwood College
provides 24 hour, seven days-a-week care and support for every residential student,
in every aspect of their daily lives so that learning opportunities are
extended beyond the classroom into their residency time.
Each student has an appointed Key
Worker that supports them in building their daily life skills and increases
their independence. Students are accommodated within individual bedrooms which
can be decorated and furnished to their own personal taste. I was
fascinated to hear that under-floor heating allows each room to be temperature
adjusted to the student’s requirements to make sure they are comfortable.
The Head of Care and their team
of Residential Education Workers are proactive to offer a wide range of leisure
opportunities beyond the formal classroom timetables including cinema visits,
trips to leisure and shopping centres and visits to local attractions. Of
all which, I understand, assist to improve social communication skills.
Based upon the key principles of
TEACCH, PECS and Makaton, the goal of Beechwood College is to provide
opportunities and experiences for each individual, regardless of ability, to
prepare them for later life.
In addition, TEACCH conducts
training nationally and internationally and provides consultation for teachers,
residential care providers, and other professionals from a variety of
disciplines. Research activities include psychological, educational, and
biomedical studies.
For info, PECS (stands for
Picture Exchange Communication System) http://www.pecs.org.uk/general/what.htm begins with
teaching students to exchange a picture of a desired item with a teacher, who
immediately honours the request. For example, if they want a drink, they will
give a picture of 'drink' to an adult who directly hands them a drink. Verbal
prompts are not used, thus encouraging spontaneity and avoiding prompt
dependency.
The system goes on to teach
discrimination of symbols and how to construct simple "sentences."
Ideas for teaching commenting and other language structures such as asking and
answering questions are also incorporated. It has been reported that both
pre-school and older students have begun to develop speech when using PECS. The
system has been successful with adolescents and adults who have a wide array of
communicative, cognitive and physical difficulties.
It was developed over 20 years
ago as a unique augmentative, alternative training package that allows children
and adults with autism and other communication difficulties to initiate
communication. First used in the United States, PECS has received worldwide
recognition for focusing on the initiation component of communication.
For info, Makaton http://www.makaton.org/ is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people to
communicate. It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and
symbols are used with speech, in spoken word order.
With Makaton, children and adults can communicate straight away using signs
and symbols. Many people then drop the signs or symbols naturally at their own
pace, as they develop speech.
For those who have experienced the frustration of being unable to
communicate meaningfully or effectively, Makaton really can help. Makaton takes
away that frustration and enables individuals to connect with other people and
the world around them. This opens up all kinds of possibilities.
Makaton uses signs, symbols and speech to help people communicate. Signs
are used, with speech, in spoken word order. This helps provide extra clues
about what someone is saying. Using signs can help people who have no speech or
whose speech is unclear. Using symbols can help people who have limited speech
and those who cannot, or prefer not to sign.
Makaton is extremely flexible as it can be personalised to an individual's
needs and used at a level suitable for them. It can be used to:
· share thoughts, choices
and emotions
· label real objects,
pictures, photos and places
· take part in games and
songs
· listen to, read and tell
stories
· create recipes, menus and
shopping lists
· write letters and
messages
· help people find their
way around public buildings
Today over 100,000 children and adults, use Makaton symbols and signs. Most
people start using Makaton as children then naturally stop using the signs and
symbols as they no longer need them. However, some people will need to use
Makaton for their whole lives.
Beechwood College’s integrated approach to learning has their qualified
lecturers, residential and clinical teams partnering together so that each
student’s personalised programme is developed and reinforced consistently as a
24 hour learning.
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| Being welcomed to Beechwood College |
They believe every young adult has potential and they unlock this by
delivering personalised programmes of study that are informed by the clear
assessment of each student’s primary needs. The students’ progress is monitored
in each teaching session of every day. Six monthly progress reviews are
held for students, their families and professionals to formally review progress
and to communicate the targets that are set for the next six months.
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| Walking with students from Beechwood College |
I was very warmly welcomed by Darren Jackson, College Principle, Mat James,
Registered Manager / Head of Residential Care and Dave Power, the General
Manager. I am sincerely grateful to Darren, Mat and Dave for providing
the time to show me around the College and for making me feel so welcome.
We spoke at great length and I am also grateful to everyone at the College for
welcoming Clare Dunbar-Pollard who is single-handedly gifting her time to
coordinate the BRIT 2012 mile walk.
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| Chatting with students |
Clare rarely has the opportunity to visit the locations I walk at and is
very much the unsung heroine of the BRIT 2012 mile walk. Working
tirelessly behind the scenes whilst balancing two children is an
extraordinarily selfless gift of time and it’s important for locations to know
that there is not a team of volunteers coordinating all my movements throughout
the Challenge; it’s one person volunteering to support BRIT and I. For
Clare to see just how successful each day is for BRIT and the 2012 mile walk is
important, as is the opportunity for location coordinators to meet Clare out on
the ground.
Day 257 was yet another fantastic day and it was a pleasure to meet
students and staff during my visit including time in the Arts Room, a walk at
the Lake and then a tour of the College and facilities. Thank you to
everyone at Beechwood College for a tremendous experience and for explaining a
lot more about Autism.
On Saturday, Day 258 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk I travelled to Pontymoile
Marina in Torfaen to be hosted by the Torfaen District http://www.torfaenscouts.org.uk/ of the UK Scouting
Association and to be joined by Beavers, Cubs and Scout Leaders.
Beavers http://scouts.org.uk/beavers/ or Beaver Scouts are
young people usually aged between six and eight years old. They belong to the
first and youngest Section in the Scouting family.
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| A wonderful welcome from Torfaen District Scout Groups Griffithstown, Henllys, West Pontnewydd and Pontypool |
Young people can join Beaver
Scouts in the three months leading up to their sixth birthday. They can move to
the next Section, Cub Scouts, between seven years and six months and eight
years six months.
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| Meeting Beavers, Cubs and Adult Leaders of the UK Scouting Associationon Day 258 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk in Torfaen |
Easily recognised by their
distinctive turquoise sweatshirts, Beaver Scouts enjoy making friends, playing
games, going on visits and helping others. They usually meet together once a
week in a Beaver Scout Colony. Some Beaver Scout Colonies also organise Sleepovers.
These are often the first time a young person spends a night away from home.
They take place in suitable buildings, often Scout centres.
To find your nearest Beaver
Colony please click here; https://members.scouts.org.uk/cms.php?pageid=1806
I was delighted that we were
joined by the Mayor, Councillor Wayne Tomlinson, who joined us for part of our
walk together and spent time talking to the Beavers, Cubs and Adult Leaders.
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| Mayor Wayne Tomlinson who joined us on Day 258 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
Cub Scouts are young people aged
from 8 to 10½ years of age. There are loads of fun things that you can do as a
Cub Scout including trying lots of different activities like camping, hiking,
exploring, swimming, boating and collecting.
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| A young Scout looking at the UK Scouting Association on my BRIT walking staff |
Cubs also go on trips and days
out, to places like the zoo and theme parks. Young Cubs will be able meet new
friends in the pack and take part in lots of new outdoor activities as well as
camping and pack holiday weekends.
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| Answering questions on the Charity & Organisation badges on my BRIT Walking Staff |
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| With the Mayor & Beavers, Cubs and Adult Scout Leaders in Torfaen on Day 258 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
It is always a pleasure for me to spend time with the UK Scouting
Association and to meet the young Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers. I
am always humbled when I meet the Adult volunteers who give so much of their
time and energy to support this wonderful charity.
It is known that scouting existed
in the north of the eastern valley by November 1909 with the first district
(Pontypool) being registered during 1911. During the intervening years, the
district which covers from Blaenavon to Cwmbran and at one time extended to Usk
and Caerleon has been divided in two and then unified on a number of occasions.
Torfaen District was formed on the 1st April 1986 when the districts of Cwmbran
and Eastern Valley were merged.
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| Spending time with Beavers and Cubs in Torfaen on Day 258 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
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| Learning more about the Cub Badges on Day 258 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
Scouting is a worldwide
organisation built around its members to provide challenges and adventure.
Young people can make scouting what they want and make their own adventure.
Scouting is based on its members facing new challenges and making new friends.
Without adult volunteers
scouting cannot work. The UK Scouting Association relies on volunteers in
many capacities to make it work and provide the best for the members. Torfaen
District, like many other Districts are always looking for Adult
Volunteers. To find out more, please click here; http://www.torfaenscouts.org.uk/leaders-and-volunteers.asp
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| Walking along the stunning canal near to Pontymoile Marina in Torfaen on Day 258 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
Saturday, Day 258, was a great
day of the BRIT 2012 mile walk and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time talking to
the young Beavers and Cubs about all the activities they have been
enjoying. My thanks to all members of the Torfaen District of the UK
Scouting Association for making my day such a happy experience.
I finished the day with 383 miles
to go.
Best wishes,
Phil