I recently visited Linkage College’s Toynton Campus. It was fantastic to be able to see the excellent work that the team here are doing.
Linkage College is one of the longest-established specialist independent further education colleges in the country for young people with learning disabilities and has four campuses across Lincolnshire and the East Riding.
Alongside a tour of the campus, I was able to see a preview of a musical piece set to be performed in an upcoming summer show that learners from the College will be participating in at the Grimsby Auditorium in July.
During the visit, I saw a range of the activities available at the college. This included traditional desk-based classes, as well as more vocational sessions focused on topics such as cookery, which are designed to increase learners’ life skills. I also spent time in a music session, designed to boost learners’ confidence.
I also spent time in the college’s retail shop. Here, learners can build their employability skills by gaining experience working in the store. Produce sold in the shop includes items made at the Linkage sites by other learners.
It is great that local people have access to these high-quality services which have so much of an impact on boosting individuals’ confidence, creativity, independence and employability.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Valerie Waby, the Chief Executive, and to all the staff and learners at Linkage College who took the time to show me around.