Connexions (Careers)
For free careers information, including use of computer career questionnaires which help you find out what things you may like to do, and they have human assistance, call your local branch.
Connexions Website and E-mail address.
However, this government has charged itself with tracking all 13-19 year olds, using the careers service, so you may want to check before going in what information they will require from you and whether you will be put on a register and/or database, who has access to this register/database and for what reason.

Cornwall Play Development Group
For children on Playlines, (after school clubs, where children can play individually or with lots of other children in a safe and happy environment). These facilities are unused during school hours, except for non-teaching days, so we could approach them for use during term time for home educated children, but they charge. Any other ideas or questions regarding a need for safe play areas in your district, contact Judy Champion, on 01872 260512. They also sell reflective armbands, badges etc. at cost price, phone for a list, and send out a resource list of videos on free loan, booklets, posters and leaflets and other free information.

Education Advisory Service
Mr Crowther says: “The EAS are completely private and independent specialists in pupils and students (the latter including mature students) who may have difficulty with literacy on paper or learning generally, established 1976, and deal with parents - we do not advise Education Authorities. These days we do not use traditional educational assessments as there is a good diagnostic screening test which covers both sides of any learning problems, as it is now known that the main requirement is functional vision, which is not the same as eyesight.”
Many parents take their children to an optometrist to have their eyes checked, and are then told that they have no visual problems affecting learning or literacy. This is not correct as the ordinary eyesight does not check the vision that we all use when doing close work.
If you do have any children who have typical dyslexic or literacy problems with learning literacy, we are quite happy to talk to parents as long as they are paying the telephone call. We work from home so parents can ring soon after 6pm. If it should be more convenient, contact Mr. Henry Crowther, Administrator for EAS, and Mrs Wendy Crowther, B.Sc., Dip. Ed., Specialist in Specific and Vision-related learning difficulties:
Norweth Cottage, New Road, Tregony, Truro, TR2 5RY. Telephone / Fax 01872 530544, or e-mail, or see their website.

Kumon Maths In Cornwall
Contact Karen Ouzman on St. Austell 01726 833045, or Carol Parham on Truro 01872 864127 for all costs and other details of the scheme. Freephone 0800 854714 for general information.

Launceton Indirect Learning Centre
Private tuition for children or adults with dyslexia. Bridgetown Farm, Warrington. Tel 01566 773962.

Newlyn Art Gallery, Education Programme
The Gallery Education Programme is closely linked to the exhibition programme, whereby contemporary art is interpreted, explored and developed through guided tours, discussions, workshops, classes, artist’s talk and projects, ranging from free insight sessions for teachers, family art club, GCSE support, and lots more. Ring the Education Officer, Esen Kaya on 01736 363715 for more information.

Toy Libraries
Cornwall has Toy Libraries, such as the one in Falmouth, where toys can be played with there or borrowed, and the membership fee is about £1.50 per year. The age range is from new-born to about five years old. Open 9.30am to 11.30am, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The Falmouth Toy Library, The Court House, Park terrace, Falmouth. Tel: 01326 312493. Try your library to find out if there is one in your area.

Adopt a Bat
You can help directly to fund life-saving work at the Bat Hospital and other conservation projects for bats. You will receive an adoption certificate and a welcome pack, lots of information, a full-colour print and a special invitation to visit the hospital in Penzance.

Arts and Crafts Courses, Tresahor Vean
For adults, and possibly older teenagers, workshops available, phone 01326 340784.

Charles Colman World of Dance
They teach ballet, salsa, tango, rock and roll, Latin, ballroom, sequence and line dancing as well as theatrecraft. If interested they will send details, ring 01209 715541, for classes at Camborne and St. Ives, starting at age 3. Try also Truro Dance Centre on 01872 240957 for flamenco as well as other dances.

Cornwall Athletic Club
This is a must for any budding athlete with superb facilities held on Tuesday evenings at ‘The Royal Duchy of Cornwall Track’ behind Carn Brea Leisure Centre, Pool, Redruth at 6pm. Skills taught include discus, javelin, high and long jump, shot, pole vault and running short and long distances. Most school children will not necessarily need this club as they will be spotted and entered by their schools. However, home educated children could miss out, so go along and give it a try, age 9 onwards. Contact Liz Hicks, membership secretary at 78 Tregundy Road, Perranporth, TR6 0LL.

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Available to 14 year olds and above. I have a few fact sheets if you are interested but your initial contact in Cornwall is Elmer Wilson at C.C.C. The Youth Office, Church Road, Pool, Redruth. TR15 3PT. Tel: 01209 610616.

Falmouth Canoe Club
Indoor session at Ships and Castles Leisure Pool, tried and tested by four home educated children, with great reviews! Outdoor in the summer, meeting at Falmouth Water Sports Club near Tragos, with various venues and skills such as rescue, river, sea and reservoir skills. Star awards scheme too. Contact Steve on 01326 375570 or Neil Roberts on 01326 224486.

Fox Club
Junior branch of Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Members are sent a magazine, Pawprint, three times a year and go on outings and events all over Cornwall. For 11 year olds and under. £3 for home educated children. Contact: Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, TR4 9JD. Tel: 01872 240777. Fax: 01872 225476. E-mail the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and view their website.

Goonhilly Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre has many interactive displays about the history of communications and future developments. There is free entry to home educators and their children in term time. They also have education worksheets for Key Stage 2, 3 and 4, which can be accessed on their website along with teaching notes.
You can contact Andrea Storey by e-mail or telephone 01872 325602 for a brochure explaining more. You can also have a virtual tour of the Visitor's Centre on their website.

Helston Tae Kwon Do
This is held twice a week at St. Andrews Hall and Parc Eglos School, costs £14 a month and entitles you to free sessions at other Cornwall clubs in Truro, Camborne, Newquay and St. Austell. Contact Mike Beard on 01326 319690.

Indoor Athletic Scheme
For 8-15 year olds. Lots of fun with top coaches and free T-shirt and goody bag for just £5. Contact Dave Hocking on 01726 223310. We picked up this information from Water World, Newquay but the telephone number is St. Austell area. Try it and see if interested.

Judo
Carn Brea Judo Club are happy for parents to bring their children in to watch some judo, and then try a beginners’ course for a few weeks, (just wearing comfortable clothes), to see if the children are interested. They run a judo class for 5-7 year olds, and beginner and intermediate classes for 7-10 year olds, 10-16 year olds and adults, so some parents join in too! It all happens on Tuesday from in after school hours at Roskear School, Camborne, and you can join the club for the evening session for mixed ages. If you are interested, contact Paul Noble for Carn Brea Club, 01726 367829, or ask your library for your local club. There are more judo clubs across Cornwall, and local and out of county competitions if your children are keen.

Kneehigh and Royal Shakespeare Company
Present a drama group on Saturday mornings at 10.30am - 12pm for 7-11 year olds. Involves storytelling, mask, music, improvisation, acting and video to be held at the Acorn theatre, Parade St., Penzance, Tel: 01736 365520. £2.50 per session or £20 for ten. Contact Steve Jacobs for more details on 01736 332728.

Le Club Français
Stella Lang is running this from 7/11/2000 at Culdrose Community Centre, Helston. Phone 01736 763027 for more details.

National Seal Sanctuary
You can adopt a seal (Junior £30, Adult £50, Family £99) and receive free entry at Gweek for 1 year amongst other information, certificate etc. Contact the Adoption Co-ordinator on 01326 221361 and give your chosen seal a fighting chance of making a full recovery before going back to it’s natural habitat.

Newquay Sea Life Club
You can now join the ‘Sea Life Explorer Club’ for £6.99 and enjoy free entry to the centre for 1 whole year (when accompanied by a full-paying adult) plus a membership pack containing badge, stickers etc. Ask at the kiosk on entry for a short form and pay joining fee at the same time, free entry starts straight away.

Newquay Surf Life Saving Club
Nippers 8-12 year olds contact Jim Boyle on 01637 871312. Juniors 12-16 year olds contact Martin Dewsnap on 01637 871654.

Observatory for Cornwall
View their website.

Other Clubs
Most areas also have gymnastics/rugby/football/cricket/tennis clubs. These are an important facility for home educated children as they may have little or no other team sports. They are usually cheap and can be found in your local directory and listed in libraries.

Penryn Rowing Club
One of the only clubs catering for teenagers, this is on Monday evenings. They do flashboating, skiffs and they are getting a gig so there is a variety of rowing skills to be learnt. This club stays open all winter when they row on Sundays. Contact Gwen at home on 01326 561446 for more details and if you’re interested.

Seal Sanctuary Volunteer Scheme
For 17 years old and upwards.

Seaquest South-West
Are asking us all to contact them every time we see a number of sea creatures, dead or alive, to contribute to their survey into the numbers of dolphins, whales, seals, etc. to be found in the deep sea surrounding Cornwall and Devon. Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Five Acres, Allet, Truro TR4 9DJ on 01872 273939 for more information.

Short Training Courses
Local schools as they often offer short training courses over the holidays, available to anyone. These are usually cheap, fun and very useful and may include team sports.

St. John Ambulance
There are places available in ‘Badgers’, suitable for 6-11 year olds and Cadets for 11-16 year olds. This gives children an opportunity to learn First Aid and other important skills in a safe and controlled environment with experienced trained staff. Badger sets are available in East Cornwall; Bude, Callington, Camelford, Fowey, Launceston, Liskeard, Looe, Lostwithiel, Newquay, Saltash, St. Blazey and Wadebridge. West Cornwall: Hayle, Helston, Pendeen, Penryn, Penzance, Redruth and St. Ives. Truro Badger set is folding due to the lack of a Badger Leader so anyone who feels they could take on that role or interested in enrolling in Badgers should telephone the County Manager on 01872 277867.

Stagecoach
Stagecoach Truro is a Stagecoach Theatre Arts School operated under franchise and independently owned by the Parry partnership. It operates on Saturdays, with a three hour morning session (10am to 1pm) or afternoon session (2.30pm to 5.30pm) with qualified drama, dance and singing coaches. The Truro Centre is at Penair School, St. Clement, Truro. A prospectus and further information may be obtained from Reg Perry, 6, St. Giles House, Gonvea, Wadebridge, Cornwall. PL27 6DP. Tel: 01208 816220.

Swimming Lessons, Distance Certificates and Clubs
Try Helston Swimming club with sessions starting with beginners an Thursday evenings. All staff are voluntary but teaching standards are excellent. Contact committee members present on Thursdays, between 5 and 9pm at Helston Leisure Centre next to Helston Upper School. Lessons or a club, try your local pool. Distance badges can be swum for if there is a qualified swimming teacher as a life-guard during public swims, try your local pool.

Teresa Blee School of Dancing
Ballet, Tap and Modern dance classes are held at Helston Community Centre weekly. Fees payable one term in advance, from beginners to advanced. A good way for children to meet others and learn poise and body control as well as brain co-ordination! Contact Teresa Blee on 01326 565789.

‘Tecans’ Badminton Club
This is run by Pat Hollands who is a national affiliated coach at Pool School on Wednesdays 7.30 - 10.30pm. First week you pay a guest fee of £1.50 and a 50p shuttle fee is payable every week. Price per session is £65 for 30 weeks, this is payable in 2 lots if necessary.