Fundraising Pre-Loved Sale at Lifeskills

From 11am to 3pm on Saturday 10th March, Lifeskills will be holding a special event on the 4th floor of the Create Centre selling high end pre-loved clothes, jewellery, accessories and more. Stalls with a selection of crafts, cakes and refreshments will also be available. This is a great opportunity to pick up a bargain or find something unique for your wardrobe. Plus, you get to do it in the fabulous surroundings of Lifeskills’ amazing indoor village and raise money for a great cause.

Entry to the event costs £1 with all proceeds going to Lifeskills’ Volunteer Appeal. Lifeskills needs to raise £5,000 in order to recruit and train 25 new volunteer guides and provide life-long skills to groups of 10-11year old children.

Lifeskills is the West of England’s only interactive safety centre. All activities take place on realistic sets, including shops, a road, a railway and houses. Sessions cater for children, people with learning difficulties and older people. All are designed to encourage independence and prevent accidental injury.

Cycling 950 Miles in Aid of Lifeskills

In May 2018 Lifeskills General Manager, Andy Townsend, with a team of business colleagues, friends and supporters will be cycling the length of Britain in aid of Lifeskills. Between the 6th and 17th May 2018 the group are planning to ride 950 miles, from Land’s End to John O’Groats, in just 12 days – that’s approximately 80 miles each day! The aim of this challenge is to raise a whopping £50,000 for Lifeskills and help thousands of people across the West of England area to live healthier, happier and more independent lives. Training is already in full swing and all our riders have been braving the winter weather to get some practice miles under their belts.

Why not show them your support by visiting our fundraising page at www.everyclick.com/andylejog and making a donation. This really is a fabulous cause and every penny you donate will make a huge difference to someone’s life.

Every year over 14,000 people die as a result of accidents across the UK and over 200,000 are seriously injured in England alone. The estimated cost to society is around £150 billion a year, not to mention the huge emotional cost to the families left devastated by the effects of a serious accident.

Rather than treating this issue re-actively, and dealing with the consequences of an accident once it has happened, Lifeskills takes a proactive approach to accident prevention.  Our aim is not to wrap people in cotton wool but to give them the skills and confidence to do more, without putting themselves or others at risk. Our interactive scenarios give visitors the opportunity to experience difficult situations, make choices and learn from their mistakes, making it an incredibly effective and memorable way to learn.

Children looking at the contents of a fridge

Helping Children to Stay Safe

I became a volunteer guide last January, and I love it.  It is an extremely worthwhile, professionally run project that teaches 10/11 year olds how cope with emergency situations, spot hazards and stay safe. If you are thinking that you might give it a go – please do – they really need more help so that every child in the region can benefit from visiting the centre.

Lifeskills is based in the Create Centre at the Cumberland basin. Basically, it is a huge film set with 19 different “senarios” which includes practising emergency 999 calls, discovering and reacting to a house fire, carrying out first aid and experiencing the consequences of trespassing on a railway line – all made very realistic with the use of light, sound and wind effects.

The volunteer guides are great bunch of people from all walks of life.  Some are ex teachers, many, like me, are not. The children work in groups of four with a guide who takes them around the different scenarios.  As a new volunteer you will start by shadowing,  and when you feel comfortable, you take over some of the sets.

What I particularly like about it, is the flexibility. You don’t have to commit to a particular day, or number of days.  Just one or two days a month – whenever you can.  They cover travel and lunch expenses – plus you get a bright red polo shirt uniform!

For me, it ticks all the boxes:  the children have a great time whilst learning valuable skills; I am part of friendly team; I feel valued and appreciated; and the staff are extremely helpful and supportive.  Finally, and most importantly, I might save a child from landing up in A & E – or worse.

I you would like to see the centre in action, give them a ring, and pop in sometime next term.

Sally

Lifeskills contact details

0117 9224511

[email protected]

www.lifeskills-bristol.org.uk