Independent Living

Who is this course for?

This course is for everyone who wants to enjoy fun activities and understand how you can lead a healthier lifestyle.

What will I learn?

• To relax
• Have a greater sense of well-being
• How to have greater confidence
• How to improve your concentration
• The benefits of exercise and why exercise is important
• The function of the skeleton and how we use our muscles
• What are the main bones in the body.
• Healthy eating and what our bodies need to be healthy
• What are the 5 different food groups
• Looking at food labels
• Shopping and menu choices

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

A yoga mat or blanket to lie on and a belt.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• Exercise and have fun to music
• Create your own exercises
• Play ball games
• Take your pulse before and after exercise.

Course requirements:

• Wear comfortable clothes
• Follow simple instructions to relaxation techniques
• Commit to come to class every week
• Be able to follow simple verbal instructions

Location:

Strand House

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners, who would like to learn about different artists and their work, and develop their own ideas and imagination through the creative process.  We will create art work using a wide variety of techniques and ideas inspired by the artists we look at. 

What will I learn?

• Identify a range of different artists and their work
• Create art work inspired by the artists that we view and discuss
• Use a wide variety of materials and techniques to create artworks – for example, painting, drawing, printing, collage and papier-mâché.

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

Your own apron and pen each week.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• Increase your well-being, confidence and sense of achievement through the creative process
• Develop self-expression through creativity
• Develop your literacy and numeracy skills through various activities – group discussions, using shapes, designs and patterns
• Develop life skills – time management, problem solving, decision making, planning, creative thinking, making choices, participating in group activities/group discussion, and evaluating and reflecting on your own progress.

Course requirements:

• Show interest and commitment to the course
• Follow health and safety rules at all times
• Be open minded to try a wide range of art techniques
• Not mind getting messy

Location:

Strand House

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners who would like improve their general health and wellbeing. The course is open to all abilities as learners will work at their own level developing flexibility within the body, improving co – ordination skills and using different breathing techniques to help relax and calm the mind. This course will provide and nurture a sense of calm and well-being within each individual, a feeling that learners will carry with them in their daily lives.

What will I learn?

• How to follow a simple sequence of gentle chair based yoga exercises
• Use the breath in different ways that can help you relax
• Identify some Yoga postures and breathing techniques
• Practise some of what you have learnt at home

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

A yoga mat or blanket to lie on and a belt.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• Increase your wellbeing
• Learn ways to relax, calm and balance
• Develop flexibility and co-ordination skills
• Identify ways of calming the mind when you feel stressed
• Develop life skills including communication, following routines and time management.

Course requirements:

There are no special requirements for this course and it is open to all.

Location:

Strand House

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners who would like to get fit by dancing and following a weekly healthy eating plan.

What will I learn?

• Plan weekly healthy meals
• Understand the foods that are good for you
• Understand how dancing helps your body and mind
• Keep fit through dance
• Control breathing

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

A large bottle of water, an exercise mat and a small towel.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• Learn how to make healthier choices with food
• Gain confidence in learning new dance moves
• Build friendships with other learners
• Improve my health and fitness

Course requirements:

You must be able to follow simple instructions.

Location:

Strand House

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners who would like to work outdoors planting their own fruit, vegetables and flowers and tasting what they grow.

What will I learn?

To make your own compost and use tools safely. To grow plants in soil and in water.  To save your own seeds and to grow flowers and vegetables from seeds.

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

Folder, pen, gardening gloves. Something for the compost bin each week.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• improve your physical and mental health
• develop your skills and confidence in growing plants at home
• improve your writing and maths skills
• build friendships with other learners

Course requirements:

There are no special requirements for entry on to this course.

Location:

Good Food Matters, New Addington

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners who would like to learn skills in baking, decorating and presentation

What will I learn?

How to measure and weigh ingredients, to decorate cakes, work as part of a team and independently, food hygiene, health and safety in the kitchen and healthy options in baking.

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

An apron, folder, pen, ingredients, tea towel and container.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• develop your confidence in cooking
• learn how baking can be fun and relaxing
• build friendships with other learners
• improve your maths skills

Course requirements:

You must be able to use a sharp knife correctly with or without support. Follow a simple instruction sheet with or without support.

Location:

Cherry Hub

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners who would like to learn about looking after their hair and skin.

What will I learn?

• How to use basic skills for healthy hair
• use the right products for you hair and skin
• apply products to you hair and skin
• Recognise products that are not so good for hair and skin

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

A folder, a pen and a notebook.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• Develop confidence in managing your hair and skin care
• Have the opportunity to try some products
• Gain knowledge about what is good for you hair and skin
• Build friendships with other learners

Course requirements:

You must be able to follow simple instructions.

Location:

Strand House

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners who would like to design and make mosaics. The course is suitable for beginners and more experienced learners, who want to develop their mosaic skills through working on their own more challenging projects.

What will I learn?

You will learn how to make a range of mosaics projects using the correct equipment and following health and safety rules.

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

All the necessary equipment will be provided for you to complete this course.

How will this course benefit me?

You will develop:

• communication skills and confidence, and increase your well-being and sense of achievement through the creative process
• your literacy and numeracy skills through various activities – group discussions, quizzes, using shapes, sorting colours, tiles, and textures, and recording your own progress
• your design skills and use of colour, pattern and shape
• the ability to evaluate your own progress and move forward in your work

Course requirements:

There are no special requirements for entry on to this course.

Location:

Strand House

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners who would like to like to sing music, play some rhythms, share musical ideas and preferences and would like to record music or play back.

What will I learn?

• Singing 
• Playing percussion (hitting instruments)
• Making instruments
• Recording music
• Group skills
• Listening skills
• Developing self-confidence

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

A folder to keep lyrics and notes in.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• Develop listening skills
• Develop communication (group and turn-taking skills)
• Have fun singing songs and talking about music you like.
• Develop your inner-confidence, self-esteem and voice.
• Make friends

Course requirements:

There are no entry requirements and you do not need to think of yourself as a good singer, BUT an interest in music would be helpful.

Location:

Strand House

Who is this course for?

This course is for creative and imaginative people who would like to listen to and make up stories and then turn them into a film for show to family and friends. It is for people who feel they need their self-confidence and communication skills improved. You will create and express yourself in a safe and supportive environment.

What will I learn?

• To write a short story using workshops and acting skills turning this into a film.
• Identify and plan what goes into a story (character, place, action, narrative structure).
• Act using your face, body and voice, expressing a range of emotions and meanings.
• Use technology to film.
• Direct a little: leading individuals or groups of people, or where best to put cameras when making a film.
• Use different practical skills: acting, using non-verbal communication to make meaning (body language, gesture, facial expression) group skills, listening skills, developing Self-confidence.
• Literacy skills: you do not need to be able to write (the tutor can help you communicate and write a story in other ways), but if you can, you can develop your writing and planning, text-review and communication skills when putting together your work as part of a team.
• Make your voice and ideas heard and valued.
• Perform on camera: as part of a group, in pairs, and provide feedback

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

A folder to keep any papers we use to plan.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• Develop listening skills
• Develop communication (non-verbal, and turn-taking skills)
• Have fun performing on film
• Have fun creating a piece of drama
• Develop your inner-confidence, self-esteem and voice
• Make friends
• Get fit! (It’s quite an active class)

Course requirements:

There are no entry requirements: open to those who can communicate with words, gestures, facial expressions, or other signs, and to those who can’t.

Location:

Strand House

Who is this course for?

This course is for learners who would like to improve their fitness, learn more about their environment, become more confident and have fun.

What will I learn?

How to keep yourself safe walking in different environments and conditions.  What to wear and what to bring on a ramble. How to use spotter sheets to identify different plants and wildlife during the different seasons. To track your walk your walk using an app or a smartwatch.

What will I need to bring with me to the course?

A hands free rucksack, bottle of water, healthy snack, (optional) packet of tissues, hand sanitiser and face mask.

How will this course benefit me?

You will:

• improve your physical and mental health and wellbeing
• lose weight or maintain a healthy weight
• increase your stamina
• develop your knowledge of plants and animals
• feel less stressed and sleep better
• build friendships with other learners

Course requirements:

You must be able to walk outdoors for up to three hours without access to toilets.  You must be able to travel on public transport with or without support.

Location:

Out and about, meet up at Croydon Clocktower