Breakout session provided by Martin Wilson, Tin Arts which was part of the Cultural Commissioning National Seminar in Doncaster on the 10th June 2014 Find out more about Cultural Commissioning Programme. http://www.ncvo.org.uk/practical-support/public-services/cultural-commissioning-programme

1. 10th June 2014
Cultural Commissioning: Doncaster
Martin Wilson
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3. SLIDE HERE – JPEG OF FLYER
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Autism
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates
with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world
around them.
It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain
difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are
able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning
disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support.
People with autism may also experience over or under sensitivity to sounds, touch,
tastes, smells, light or colours.
Autism presents a number of key characteristics that individually and collectively form
barriers for people with Autism to learn, develop and progress.

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Children, young people and adults with Autism
•Wide range of needs and support
•Bespoke package of individual support
•Underserved members of the community
•Lack of clear planning about future provision
•Need for new / innovative ideas

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Autism
Across of our programmes we are looking to support people with Autism to:
• Access activity with consistency and continuity
• Be able to interpret and use social communication and environmental cues
• Be more confident to make meaningful, empowered decisions.
• Try to problem solve and find solutions
• Think and plan ahead including organisational skills.
• 'Self-recognise' sensory preferences and tolerances.

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THE COMMISSION OPPORTUNITY
Durham County Council Adult Community Learning Fund
Durham County Council’s Adult Learning & Skills service supports the National priorities
for government funding of Adult Community Learning outlined in ‘New Challenges, New
Chances Further Education and Skills System Reform Plan: building a world class skills
system’, BIS, Dec 2011:
• Maximise access to community learning for adults, bringing new opportunities
and improving lives, whatever people’s circumstances.
• Promote social renewal by bringing local communities together to experience the
joy of learning and the pride that comes with achievement.
• Maximise the impact of community learning on the social and economic well-
being of individuals, families and communities.

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THE COMMISSION OPPORTUNITY
Durham County Council Adult Community Learning Fund
Durham County Council’s Adult Learning & Skills service supports the National priorities
for government funding of Adult Community Learning outlined in ‘New Challenges, New
Chances Further Education and Skills System Reform Plan: building a world class skills
system’, BIS, Dec 2011:
• Maximise access to community learning for adults, bringing new opportunities
and improving lives, whatever people’s circumstances.
• Promote social renewal by bringing local communities together to experience the
joy of learning and the pride that comes with achievement.
• Maximise the impact of community learning on the social and economic well-
being of individuals, families and communities.

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THE COMMISSION OPPORTUNITY
Theme One: Community Learning
Delivery under Theme One should foster aspiration, independence, personal
development and promote social and economic wellbeing. We are looking for
projects/courses that seek to::
• improve confidence and willingness to engage in learning
• prepare people for training, employment or self-employment through the
acquisition of relevant skills
• enable parents/carers to be better equipped to support and encourage their
children’s learning
• increase volunteering, civic engagement and social integration/inclusion

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THE COMMISSION OPPORTUNITY
Priority Groups
The following groups should be prioritised although it is acknowledged that some learners
will fall outside of these categories:
• Those with low qualifications and/or skill level (below L2)
• Individuals or groups who are socially excluded
• Black and minority ethnic individuals with low qualification and/or skill levels
(below L2)
• Those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those experiencing mental
health difficulties

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TENDER RESPONSE
Creative
choices
“Creative Choices” is a multi-disciplinary arts and cultural programme
designed to engage people with autism.
The programme aims to broaden the horizons and aspirations of the participants through
engagement with creative arts activities to achieve its 3 key outcomes:
• To develop self-confidence
• To improve communication skills
• To work towards being employable

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Delivery
1 x programme manager
2 x Artists
Partner venue
Weekly sessions, 2 hours each
Sessions run as 5 weeks blocks – 4 activity / 1 review
20 week programme
24 learners across the programme (2 cohorts)
£1,500 per learner

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“Play” allows participants to access new and innovative ways of learning and helps to
broaden their experience.
‘Play’ encourages risk and creative risk, removal of parameters, removes the sense that
there is a right and wrong answer, it responds to each individual and is owned, formed
and shaped by the individual regardless of artform.
‘Play’ does not seek to replicate a style of genre of art, but rather provides the space for
the individual to respond within an artform or number of artforms..

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Examples of outcomes of ‘Play’ - people with Autism
• Introduction to the concept of personal development and growth (eg progression
through an activity that is repeated but extended over time)
• Beginning to explore and feel comfortable in different environments and roles (eg
as audience member, performer, assistant)
• Building confidence through achievements and discoveries (eg Performing,
moving, singing, creating, speaking in front of peer group and external audience)
• Co-operating/ negotiating / sharing / trading with other group members through
participation towards a common goal (eg creating an artistic response – song,
dance, etc)
• Communicating individually, in pairs and as part of a group, recognising the value
in providing support to others (eg in preparing for rehearsal and performance)
• Exploring communicating physically and improving physical interactions with
others/concept of personal space (eg creating space for others to excel and
achieve – sharing lines, dancing together, matching rhythms)

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Outcomes generated by users / stakeholders
To develop self-confidence
Students are more confident to make a choice or decision, and form their own opinions independently
Improved self-belief in their own ability to overcome challenges and barriers
To improve communication skills
Participants are able to express likes and dislikes and contribute positively to a discussion
Participants are able to offer an opinion, give and receive praise, listen and understand criticism in a
creative context
Working towards being employable
Participants have opportunities to understand the importance of setting personal goals and how to
work towards them
Participants are encouraged to foster a sense of curiosity and desire to explore individual interests
within new contexts
Participants are supported to develop the ability to self reflect: recognising and valuing their own
skills, assets and weaknesses

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• Supporting the formation of opinions/conclusions independently from their
parents/caregivers
• Foster a more positive outlook – overcoming the failure/dependency narrative
and expectation of no or limited prospects
• Foster a sense of curiosity and a desire to explore individual interests,
empowerment

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“I feel curious when I enter the hall.. it feels like you’re on some kind of stage.
It’s cool. I think it helps with my confidence.”
“I’m usually the silent type. I’ve come out of myself more, which I have enjoyed.
It’s helped me talk more.”
“I feel happy to be there. I look forward to sessions.”
“I am much more confident. I’m not afraid to do things. It’s helped me
brilliantly.”
“I feel confident in the sessions. It’s ok in the group. It’s a good thing for us to
come. Creativity is a good thing for a healthy mind. Without it everything would
be dull.”
“It’s all fun learning how to be a different person. In the sessions I feel free to
roam around areas of my mind to see what I could explore.”

25. 10th June 2014
Cultural Commissioning: Doncaster
Q & A
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