Arts Connect: Volunteering to support adults with learning disabilities engage in the arts – Theatre, Music, Dance, Galleries and Museums

Volunteering with Arts Connect

Arts Connect is a Culture Shift programme of activities designed to support adults with learning disabilities engage in the arts and develop their talent and interests. The programme has been commissioned by East Sussex County Council’s Adult and Social Care team, since 2013 with additional support from Arts Council England and other funders. Volunteering takes places across Sussex in Lewes, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Uckfield etc. Travel expenses up to £15 can be paid per session. The key opportunities for volunteers are happening in different venues, including galleries, museums and theatre spaces, including:

Get Connected events – These half day events are designed to bring together artists and arts organisations with people with learning disabilities and their carers to meet each, find out about what’s going on, share and celebrate achievements, and try out different activities.

• 20^th October 2016 – Hastings Museum
• 10^th November 2016 – Railway Land, Lewes
• 5^th December 2016 – Uckfield Civic Centre

Get Creative courses – Running over 5 weeks with a weekly 3 hour session. This year these will include Dance, DJing, Making and Media Skills.

• Strictly Dance – Crowborough Community Centre, Monday mornings x 5 from 31^st October 2016
• Walk, Talk and Make – Hastings Museum, Thursday mornings x5 from 17^th November 2016
• Media Skills – Towner gallery, Thursday mornings x 4 from 23^rd March 2017

Get Into Libraries groups – Weekly meetings at Uckfield, Seaford, Eastbourne and Bexhill libraries to encourage learning disabled people to feel safe, welcome and inspired by their local libraries.

• Uckfield – Monday mornings
• Seaford – Tuesday mornings
• Bexhill – Thursday mornings
• Eastbourne Library – TBC

Every Sort Of People Festival – at Lewes FC stadium on 13^th May 2017.

Be part of our volunteer team

Some of our volunteers are very experienced, some are beginners, just keen to develop their skills and experience. We welcome anyone with experience and/or enthusiasm for working in the arts or in a learning disability setting.   We will pay for all volunteers to complete a DBS check and we can cover travel costs at up to £15 per session. Training, mentoring and support will be provided as part of a friendly, creative team.

To apply as a volunteer, please contact the University of Brighton’s Volunteering Service, Active Student: https://about.brighton.ac.uk/careers/volunteer/register-as-a-volunteer/

Image: Courteousy of Culture Shift 2016.