Other life skills classes

This Entry 2 course helps you build the skills to search and apply for jobs using your smartphone. Learners have to be enrolled and assessed in person. This course is funded by the Greater London Authority and is only available to residents living within the Greater London Authority area.

This beginner-level course introduces learners to the essential fastening techniques used in textile and fashion projects. Ideal for those new to sewing or looking to build core construction skills, the course focuses on understanding and applying three key types of closures: zips, buttons, and flaps. Students will learn how to prepare fabrics, mark placements, and use sewing tools confidently while practising a range of simple methods. The course covers inserting standard zips, sewing on buttons securely, creating buttonholes, and constructing basic flaps suitable for bags, cushions, and garments. Clear demonstrations and step-by-step guidance support learners through each technique, helping them build accuracy and good sewing habits from the start. Through hands-on practice, participants will produce a set of samples that demonstrate their developing skills, with opportunities to personalise details such as stitching, fabric choices, and finishing touches. The course emphasises building confidence, improving precision, and understanding how closures contribute to both function and design. By the end of the course, learners will have a strong foundation in using simple closures and the confidence to incorporate them into future sewing projects. This course is perfect for beginners who want to enhance their making skills and gain practical experience with essential textile techniques.

An ESOL Conversation class at Entry 3 and above helps learners build confidence speaking in everyday and simple work situations by practising longer sentences, useful phrases, and sharing ideas. It also includes group discussions, role‑plays, and listening tasks to help learners understand key points and respond clearly.

This course is funded by the East Midlands Combined County Authority and only available to residents living within the East Midlands Combined County Authority area. This one-day mosaic course offers existing students the opportunity to either complete and refine a current project to a high standard of finish, or to develop and explore a new idea using found or natural materials.

This ESOL Driving Theory course is designed to help learners whose first language is not English successfully understand and prepare for the UK driving theory test. The course focuses on clear, simple English to explain key vocabulary, road signs, and essential rules of the road. Learners will explore common test questions, hazard awareness, and driving situations, with explanations that support language development as well as driving knowledge. Interactive activities and practical examples help build confidence, improve comprehension, and develop the skills needed to pass the theory test and drive safely in the UK.

This course is funded by the East Midlands Combined County Authority and only available to residents living within the East Midlands Combined County Authority area. This one-day mosaic course offers existing students the opportunity to either complete and refine a current project to a high standard of finish, or to develop and explore a new idea inspired by landscapes or seascapes. Designed as a flexible studio day, the course encourages experimentation, problem solving, and creative development in a supportive environment. 

Leaf, Lore & Legend II explores the profound relationship between people and the diverse flora of the British landscape. Touching on the origins of the Ogham alphabet, which associates letters with trees, meanings, and spiritual qualities, the course considers a number of plants associated with its characters, and the myths and legends that surround them. Combining ecology, history, and fable, the talk offers a holistic understanding of trees, shrubs, and plants in the UK and their deep roots in the British landscape.

This communication skills course helps learners feel more comfortable in conversations, meetings, or when speaking in public. If you struggle to find your voice or get your point across, this course can help. By the end of this course, you will have more resources at your disposal to help you communicate with confidence, even in unfamiliar situations. You may consider follow-on courses in assertiveness or emotional resilience.

This course is designed for pre-entry ESOL learners who want to improve their English for work and job opportunities. You will learn useful words and phrases for the workplace, practise speaking and listening in work-related situations, and build confidence in reading and writing simple forms and instructions. The course focuses on practical communication skills such as introducing yourself, asking questions, and understanding basic job information. Activities are interactive and supportive, helping you take steps towards employment or volunteering. No previous experience is needed—just a willingness to learn. Join us to start building your language skills for work.

This course is designed for pre-entry ESOL learners who want to improve their English for work and job opportunities. You will learn useful words and phrases for the workplace, practise speaking and listening in work-related situations, and build confidence in reading and writing simple forms and instructions. The course focuses on practical communication skills such as introducing yourself, asking questions, and understanding basic job information. Activities are interactive and supportive, helping you take steps towards employment or volunteering. No previous experience is needed—just a willingness to learn. Join us to start building your language skills for work.