Search for courses

Curriculum area: Arts and Crafts

The aim of this course is to introduce you to the idea of a holiday sketchbook and the materials you could use. It will give you tips and suggestions on how you might start.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Saturday, 26 June 2027
Number of weeks: 1
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Venue: The Gather, Ennerdale

Full fee: £22.50 | Concessionary fee: £11.25 | Staff fee: £19.13

Curriculum area: Arts and Crafts

The workshop offers a gentle, creative introduction to the vibrant art of silk painting. In the first session learners explore how to plan a simple design, apply resist lines to fabric. In the second session learners will add specialist silk paint to create flowing colour. With step-by-step guidance and plenty of room for experimentation, participants build confidence while designing and painting their own square silk scarf. This beginner-friendly course provides a relaxing, enjoyable making experience and a beautiful, wearable artwork to take home.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Saturday, 15 May 2027
Number of weeks: 2
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Venue: The Gather, Ennerdale

Full fee: £55.00 | Concessionary fee: £32.50 | Staff fee: £48.25

Curriculum area: Arts and Crafts

The workshop introduces introduces learners to simple printmaking techniques inspired by the shapes, textures, and rhythms found in the natural world. Participants explore how to observe and translate natural patterns into their own prints using accessible methods such as stamping, relief printing, or mono-printing. This beginner-friendly workshop encourages creativity, experimentation, and mindful looking, offering a relaxed space to develop new skills while creating a series of nature-inspired prints to take home.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Saturday, 17 April 2027
Number of weeks: 1
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Venue: The Gather, Ennerdale

Full fee: £26.50 | Concessionary fee: £15.25 | Staff fee: £23.13

Curriculum area: Arts and Crafts

A course for beginners to experience needle felting, whilst creating a Christmas decoration.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Saturday, 5 December 2026
Number of weeks: 1
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Venue: The Gather, Ennerdale

Full fee: £22.50 | Concessionary fee: £11.25 | Staff fee: £19.13

Curriculum area: Arts and Crafts

A course for beginners to experience simple watercolour techniques whilst creating handmade Christmas cards.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Saturday, 28 November 2026
Number of weeks: 1
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Venue: The Gather, Ennerdale

Full fee: £22.50 | Concessionary fee: £11.25 | Staff fee: £19.13

Curriculum area: ESOL

Do you want to improve your reading skills? Do you want to join a fun and friendly class? If the answer is yes then this could be the right course for you! By the end of this course your knowledge and skills will have improved and you will be confident to: use prepositions, adverbials and connectives, use knowledge of common words to understand text and find information, use detailed reading to find specific information. If this sounds very complicated do not worry! You will work with an experienced and enthusiastic ESOL tutor and a group of your peers to develop the skills and knowledge to achieve this qualification and be in the best position to move forward with your studies. You need to be able to attend classes each week and complete homework to give you the best chance of success. You will be able to study other awards in the ESOL Skills for Life suite of qualifications on successful completion.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Monday, 14 September 2026
Number of weeks: 20
Time: 09:15 - 12:15
Venue: Archive Building Whitehaven and Local Studies Centre

Free Course

Curriculum area: ESOL

Do you want to improve your reading skills? Join a supportive class and work with your peers to continue your learning journey. By the end of the course your reading skills will have improved and you will be in a really good position to continue your study in ESOL, or other areas of our curriculum offer. You will need to be able to attend classes each week to complete the guided learning hours for this qualification to give you the best chance of success. You will work with an experienced and supportive ESOL tutor to gain the skills and knowledge you need to achieve the ESOL Skills for Life Award in Reading at Entry Level 3. You will be asked to complete homework and additional independent study too, this is really important to allow you to do well and achieve your potential.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Number of weeks: 20
Time: 09:15 - 12:15
Venue: Archive Building Whitehaven and Local Studies Centre

Free Course

Curriculum area: ESOL

Do you want to improve your writing skills? Do you want to join a fun and friendly class? If the answer is yes then this could be the right course for you! By the end of this course you will be better at: Writing simple sentences in paragraphs with clear structure, writing compound sentences using common conjunctions to connect two clauses, for example using as, and, but. Don`t worry if this seems complicated now because you will work with an experienced and enthusiastic ESOL tutor and your peers to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this qualification. You will need to attend classes each week to give you the best opportunity to succeed. You will also be asked to complete homework and independent study to maximise your chances of success. This qualification will allow you to progress to other awards at Entry level 2 in the ESOL Skills for Life suite of qualifications. Use simple present tense and simple past tense. Use simple adverbial phrases of time and place e.g. on Saturday, next week, at the bus station Use adjectives and intensifiers to add detail and interest Use capital letters, question marks and full stops in sentences.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Monday, 14 September 2026
Number of weeks: 30
Time: 13:00 - 16:00
Venue: Archive Building Whitehaven and Local Studies Centre

Free Course

Curriculum area: Digital Skills

The qualification provides learners with the essential digital skills which are needed in a wide range of situations in life and at work. For example, successful learners will be able to make appointments, order goods and services, organise payments using online platforms, conduct video calls, create, edit and save a range of documents, and troubleshoot basic problems on their device.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Monday, 21 September 2026
Number of weeks: 15
Time: 09:15 - 12:15
Venue: Archive Building Whitehaven and Local Studies Centre

Free Course

Curriculum area: Digital Skills

The qualification provides learners with the essential digital skills which are needed in a wide range of situations in life and at work. For example, successful learners will be able to make appointments, order goods and services, organise payments using online platforms, conduct video calls, create, edit and save a range of documents, and troubleshoot basic problems on their device. At Level 1 the focus is primarily on digital skills for work with a secondary focus on digital skills for life.

Delivery type: In-person
Start date: Monday, 14 September 2026
Number of weeks: 15
Time: 13:00 - 16:00
Venue: Archive Building Whitehaven and Local Studies Centre

Free Course