Learning Programmes
Planning, Nurturing, Inspiring & Succeeding
ASDAN short-courses allow practical learning in a range of areas to link to a Journal of Evidence. These are our Learning Programmes. Mentees can work at their current level of confidence and develop a pride in learning, which they may have lost. One credit may be achieved in 10 sessions, whereas a 6 credit award may take a year or constitute part of a combined package. We offer learning programmes in:
Animal Care
We deliver the ASDAN short-course in Animal Care through a range of practical activities and learning. Young people learn about the care needs of a range of small animals, as well as how to handle them. They also investigate the uses of animals in work and domestic settings. The sessions take place at public sites catering for animals around Bristol and at our site The Pear Tree Farm in Wells.
Bike Maintenance
We deliver the ASDAN short-course in Activities with a focus on Bike Maintenance. Young people take the practical role of an apprentice alongside our professional bike technicians. As well as learning how to safety-check and service a bike, they can modify and upgrade their own bikes and create ‘project’ bikes from scratch. Alongside fixing the bikes, there are opportunities to ride them and to go on bike expeditions frequently.
Boxing
We deliver the ASDAN short course in Sport and Fitness with a particular focus on Boxing skills. Young people learn the techniques of boxing along with career opportunities, boxing in the community and health and fitness. We use our own Impact grading system to motivate them to develop their aptitude as boxers. Activities take place at HQ as well as in other boxing facilities around Bristol to introduce young people to a variety of experiences and other coaches.
Bricklaying
We deliver the ASDAN short course in Construction with a particular focus on Bricklaying. Our tutors are ex-trades professionals who are also mentors. We try to replicate the experience of being an apprentice and we find that young people make accelerated progress and gain confidence from the close attention, training and supervision they receive. They learn about practical skills needed to create structures from bricks, as well as health and safety and further training and career opportunities in the industry.
Carpentry
We deliver the ASDAN short course in construction with a particular focus on Woodwork and Carpentry. Our tutors are ex-trades professionals who are also mentors. We try to replicate the experience of being an apprentice and we find that young people make accelerated progress and gain confidence from the close attention, training and supervision they receive. They learn about practical skills and the variety of joints needed in carpentry, as well as health and safety and further training and career opportunities in the industry. Young people can work on their own designs to see them come to life.
Cooking and Catering
We deliver the ASDAN short course in Foodwise. This enables young people to develop their practical cooking skills and to develop essential techniques for a range of recipes and types of dish. The course also investigates nutrition and food awareness so that young people can produce healthy eating options. Masterclasses with chefs are part of the course alongside opportunities for catering projects which provide food for larger numbers of customers and special events. Young people are signposted to further learning and careers opportunities in the food and catering industry.
Expressive Arts
We use the ASDAN short course in Expressive Arts for a range of Art-based projects and learning. These include photography ,upcycling, graffiti art, digital music, crafts and film-making. Young people are encouraged to use their imagination to plan, create and review their work with close support and teaching from skilled tutors in their chosen media. Graffiti Art is delivered at our HQ and also at legal graffiti sites around Bristol for an authentic and creative experience. Photography can be woven into other courses once young people have had training on how to create effective images for a variety of purposes. It can also by run as a course on its own with them building a portfolio and even exhibiting at HQ for an invited audience. Film-making is delivered in Partnership with Screenology and young people work with film-maker undergraduates on projects close to them. The DJ digital music course is delivered by a working club DJ and enables young people to develop the knowledge and skills to produce and mix quality tracks both at our HQ and at a professional studio.
Fitness instructing
We deliver the ASDAN short course in Sport and Fitness with a particular focus on the skills needed to be a Fitness Instructor. Our team of coaches and personal trainers teach young people how to deliver fitness sessions to others, whilst at the same time helping them to train themselves safely and appropriately. Young people learn a range of exercises and health and safety in a gym environment. They also learn about routes into careers in Sport and Fitness. Sessions are based in our own gym and at fitness centres around the area so that young people get to experience a range of environments and meet other professionals.
Football
We deliver the ASDAN short course in Football. Our team of coaches and professional footballers support young people with their own football skills as well as investigating and learning about the wider game. They find out about football in the community, nutrition and the rules and regulations of the game; but with plenty of practical sessions included!
Gardening
We deliver the ASDAN short course in Gardening through our Grubbing Around project. This is based at The Viaduct and at Pear Tree Farm in Wells. Young people truly get their hands dirty learning how to propagate and grow plants, nourish them and lay out garden space effectively for all seasons of the year. They help to plan, design and make small garden construction projects and contribute to the smooth-running of a working garden.
Leadership
Leadership skills are at the heart of many of our bespoke programmes. Be weaving leadership opportunities into our mentees’ learning we can gain them an ASDAN short-course accreditation in Leadership alongside other programmes that they are completing. By getting our young people comfortable with our Learning Through Impact skills, leadership and teamwork can become part of their vocabulary and their daily actions.
Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit coaching
We deliver the ASDAN short-course in Sport and Fitness with a focus on Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit coaching. Based at CrossFit Strong Confident Kind which is within our building, young people work with specialist coaches to learn the techniques of the Olympic lifts and then how to coach them to others. They find out about the principles of CrossFit training and how to deliver safe, effective and challenging sessions to others. As well as developing their own strength and fitness, they learn about careers routes and further coaching opportunities within the industry.
Outdoor activities
The ASDAN short course in Activities is a versatile way to help young people work within a structure which is aligned with their normal mentoring activities. By keeping a journal of photographic evidence, mentees can link their experiences to key skills-problem solving, improving learning, communication, teamwork, use of English, use of Maths and use of ICT. We find that this ASDAN course can become a gateway into learning for many young people where their confidence needs to be steadily built. Often, the Activities course leads on to a raft of other courses and opportunities.
Peer Mentoring
Nurture is one of our key values, and many young people naturally become peer leaders within our ‘family’. For those who are ready to plan, organise and support others in structured activities. The Peer Mentoring ASDAN short course is ideal for teaching the skills of planning, delivering, and reviewing their performance as an individual and within a group.
Uniformed Services
For young people who may be looking to go to college and take a Public Services course, or who aspire to a career in a Uniformed Service in the future, the Uniformed Services ASDAN short course gives an excellent taster to practical aspects of these careers and the opportunity to learn more about what a career in the police, emergency or armed services will entail.
Plastering
We deliver the ASDAN short course in Construction with a particular focus on Plastering. Our tutors are ex-trades professionals who are also mentors. We try to replicate the experience of being an apprentice and we find that young people make accelerated progress and gain confidence from the close attention, training and supervision they receive. They learn about practical skills needed to board, skim, fill and plaster to the level of a professional , as well as health and safety and further training and career opportunities in the industry.
Volunteering
Doing things which help others is top of our list of Impact Skills. The more we can encourage young people to provide their efforts for free-and to explore what being a volunteer entails, the more valuable these kinds of experiences can become. Investigating and carrying out volunteering activities over a period of time can be accredited through an ASDAN short course in Volunteering.
Upcycling and Crafts
We are always impressed with the creative ideas our young people come up with. The Art Studio at HQ is multi-purpose and perfect of individually designed projects which might include a range of media. Regular trips to The Scrapstore ensure there are always plenty of supplies to stimulate making and doing activities. Our mentees can upcycle furniture, create ornaments and collages or make models and installations. All of their wonderful creations can go towards an ASDAN short-course accreditation in Expressive Arts.
Urban Graffiti Art
Our connections and relationships with several renowned local Urban artists enable us to offer workshops with a focus on graffiti art. Within our Art studio access to a variety of media allow mentees to explore spray painting, stencils, graffiti pens and graphic design as part of their learning programmes in Expressive Arts.
