Our Stories: Meet Jessica

“At Purple Patch Arts we provide creative learning experiences for learning disabled adults. It’s all about exploration, without there being a need for an end point. We started 15 years ago, and now we have 12 programmes with around 140 adults attending them.  

We have a formula that works and has been the same since we started, but our direction has changed and evolved as we’ve become much more led by our participants and their wants and needs. We use creativity as a vehicle for learning, incorporating dance, drama, music, movement, literature and visual art. We also use interactive multi-sensory activity, gamification, group activity, physical experience and imaginative discovery. Bringing those things together forms what we do and enables people to access learning at the level that’s right for them.  

We help people to understand themselves and the world around them. We have a broad theme for each year – like Celebration, Thank You or Adventure – and under that we have lots of sub-themes. Some are very fun and light-hearted, but we also don’t shy away from difficult subjects. We learn about loss and grief, our bodies, friendships and relationships.  

We pride ourselves on being really inclusive and accessible for everybody. We hope that everyone who comes to Purple Patch gets something out of it. That includes the participants, but also their support staff and our staff. I’ve never worked anywhere as long as I’ve worked for Purple Patch, it’s by far the best place I’ve ever worked. What we do is incredible and has a genuine impact on people’s lives. We see it every day – people feeling safe to express themselves, and experiencing joy and connection. I feel very lucky to do what I do.” 

Purple Patch Arts supports learning-disabled people to thrive and to be heard. They create environments where everyone is empowered to express themselves, and to engage with, and understand, themselves, other people and the world around them. They’ve had various grants from Leeds Community Foundation, including a Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund grant to support their lifelong learning programme.