Waltham Forest Disability Resource Centre

EXCITING NEW DANCE PROJECT FOR LOCAL DISABLED PEOPLE
Our Centre will be hosting an exciting series of dance and movement workshops by internationally renowned dance company Studio Wayne McGregor, starting in Leytonstone on Wednesday morning, 12th June. The dance company is the creation of multi award winning dance and choreographer Wayne McGregor CBE, also Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet. As well as creating and performing innovative dance works, Studio Wayne McG...regor is committed to engaging with the wider community. Over 100,000 people of all ages and walks of life have participated in their learning and engagement projects across the UK and internationally, from school children to adults, and from those with no prior experience to dance students and professionals. Now the company will be working in partnership with Waltham Forest Disability Resource Centre to run a series of eight 1-hour workshops for disabled people, where they can explore their creativity through dance and movement. Funded by the London Legacy Development Corporation and open to disabled people from Waltham Forest and neighbouring boroughs, the workshops will be held at our accessible centre at 90 Crownfield Road, Leytonstone E15 2BG on Wednesday mornings, 11.00am – 12.00pm, from 12th June 2019. Total beginners are as welcome as people who have danced before in whatever genre. For more information, contact Waltham Forest Disability Resource Centre on 020 8534 1589 or p.stanley@wfdrc.org.uk
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A sense of place Let's show off the lovely paintings and drawings of Leytonstone created by disabled artists at our Centre, when we hosted a recent Waltham Forest Adult Learning free taster course here. Taught by WF Adult Learning tutor, Kathy Lewiston, the sessions focussed on making art about our local area, which everyone really enjoyed.

It was lovely to welcome some new people to the Centre last Wednesday, for the first session of a free Waltham Forest Adult Learning taster course we are hosting, "Make A Pendant or Brooch with recycled materials" - thanks to the excellent Up Your Street group, who publicised the course to its members. The 2nd session is tomorrow, Wednesday 24th April, 1.30 - 3.30pm.

Just look at the lovely handmade beads created by participants at the free Waltham Forest Adult Learning taster course we've just hosted at the Centre. Over 5 weekly sessions, their fab tutor Talula got everyone making bracelets and necklaces with beads they actually created and coloured from scratch, as well recycled bits of fabric, lace and jewellery.
And if you're inspired, Talula's coming back to start a NEW free taster course in a week's time! "Make a Pendant or Brooch w...ith Recycled Materials" will run for five Wednesday afternoons sessions 1.30 - 3.30pm from Wednesday 17th April. Apart from a one-off £2 fee towards materials, this taster course is FREE if you are:
Disabled OR aged 60+ OR a carer OR have a long-term health condition such as Arthritis or Diabetes OR unemployed.
Just come along. Full contact and address details are on the flyer included with the photos.
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The moment Ann unfurls the lovely completed quilt that she has been working on for the last year, to show her classmates in DRC's Thursday morning Needlecrafts session. Ann has sewn everything meticulously by hand.

ANY KEEN QUIZZERS OUT THERE? Why not help to raise money for our local charity just by coming along and enjoying yourself at our next Quiz Night, on Friday 18th January 2019. Popular local quiz hosts Simon and Lesley will be running another of their brilliant quizzes and it costs only £4 entry. All proceeds will go to Waltham Forest Disability Resource Centre in Leytonstone, our charity that runs classes and activities for local disabled people. Everyone welcome. Feel free to bring along your own snacks and soft drinks.

It's been so great working with you, Howard
This afternoon we said a very sad farewell to DRC tutor Howard Carter, who leaves us today after running a much-loved Relaxation & Meditation class at the Centre for 13 years. Through his classes here, many people have learned meditation and relaxation techniques that have boosted their well-being and helped them manage anxiety, sleep problems, chronic pain, etc. Despite moving to the West Country several months ago, Howard has been travelling all the way to London to run his session - but has now helped us find new tutor Catherine to carry on the weekly class on Thursday afternoons. We will really miss Howard, but wish him all the best for his new life in the west country.

A big festive thank you to the Smiling Sessions from Shapeshifter Productions, who visited our Centre this morning to lead a wonderful Christmas Singalong. Led by musicians Alison, Pete and Neil, we filled the Centre with festive pop songs and carols from different countries. A lovely time was had by all and we really appreciated the Smiling Sessions coming out to spread some festive cheer.

People in our Friday afternoon Mixed Crafts class were busy getting ready for the festive season by making their own unique greeting cards. Using lots of recycled materials too. Here the fruits of their labours are 'drying' at the end of the session.

Talented Bola completed a stunning quilted blanket at last Thursday morning's Needlecraft class. Well done Bola!

Here's the quilt that Albert finished making today at our Thursday morning Needlecrafts session. Isn't it gorgeous?
Albert has really enjoyed turning his tailoring experience to quilt-making, but our tutored Needlecrafts classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (10.30am - 1pm) also very much welcome complete beginners and improvers. Some people come along for sewing, others like to knit and crochet. Only £5 per session. For more information, please contact 020 8534 1589 or p.stanley@wfdrc.org.uk

I'm not sure if the morning Zumba class had been more strenuous than usual but, at this week's Pot Luck Wednesday afternoon session, everyone voted to relax with some board games. After delving into the depths of the Games Cupboard, people enjoyed contests of Connect, Guess Who, Dominoes, Ker Plunk, 4-In-A-Row and, most popular of all, Playing Card Bingo.

Artists from the Disability Resource Centre were delighted last Monday to meet the Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr. Sally Littlejohn, when some of their winning artwork was displayed in the Mayor's Parlour and Council Chambers. They talked to the Mayor about how their work reflected the theme "The Art of Pollution", as part of this year's art contest for disabled artists, organised by Uniting Friends in partnership with TATE Modern and Waltham Forest and Redbridge boroughs.