Jubilee Church Life Centre uses Epson Stylus Pro to teach new skills

Charity’s Epson Stylus Pro 9900 large-format printer, donated by Epson, is helping to teach new skills to young people with learning difficulties and inspiring them to create stunning posters and prints.

Jubilee Church Life Centre in Grantham is a non-profit making charitable organisation which has been running a project for young people with learning difficulties for three years. Assisted by a dedicated team of volunteers, they print their own photographs onto canvas to mount and sell to the public.

The charity moved into its new building – a former Co-Operative store – in February 2011 and has undergone extensive renovations to provide a base for the local Church and a meeting place for the whole community, as well as a venue for local events and projects. Facilities and services include a coffee shop, community kitchen, music suite, English lessons, children’s club and parent and toddler group. They also offer counselling, practical help and support to people with all sorts of requirements, such as drug and alcohol abuse.

Founders Eric and Pat Whittaker explain the concept behind the charity: “We wanted somewhere that everyone would be able to use – young, old and families – and that could be the heart of the Church and community. We see and welcome all, working with a wide range of individuals, including ethnic minorities and young people with disabilities.”

One particular project working with 16 young people with learning difficulties is very close to their hearts. Pat explains: “There are many young people in our community that for one reason or another, have learning difficulties or have dropped out of education completely. It is important that they are given the opportunity to engage and learn new skills, as this not only helps to prepare them for the future but it also gives them confidence and a positive boost to their sense of self-worth.”

The teenagers take their own photographs using cameras provided by the centre. The images are then printed onto canvas using the centre’s large-format printer – an Epson Stylus Pro 9900. The 44-inch width roll-fed printer uses Epson’s UltraChrome HDR 11-colour ink set to provide an extended colour gamut on a wide range of media, with resolution up to 2880 x 1440 dpi for truly photographic-looking results. The prints are then mounted and exhibited for sale to the visiting public.

Pat says: “The printer is very easy to use and the high quality of the prints is fantastic. The young people have been delighted with the images they are able to produce with it and get a huge sense of achievement to see the finished results on display.”

Learning new skills can have a profound effect on the young people’s lives and can be the starting point for many of them to turn their lives around. “Epson has given us such a wonderful gift and opened up so many opportunities to young people, far more than you could ever imagine,” says Pat.