Subject: General Courses

Brief Description

This course is suitable for you if have completed approximately 40 hours of lessons. Techniques and skills will be aimed at preparing you to play any style of guitar music. The course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, successful tuning and replacing strings, playing/performance techniques and building a repertoire of songs and exercises. You will need to bring your own guitar to classes.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Skills attained in Guitar Beginners 1 and 2

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course you will be able to:
1. Read music and understand musical terms to the 3rd level
2. Play major, minor and pentatonic scales with a mind to improvise
3. Extend repertoire of songs to the third level
4. Increase knowledge of chords and music theory and it’s use in more challenging material.
5. Develop picking, finger style and strumming techniques through study of new material

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Cost of a method book available from the tutor at the first session. Approximate cost £5.50

For the first session you will need to bring:

One working guitar; acoustic, classical or steel string.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Your tutor will advise you.
The Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

A course centered around working with timber. You will be learning and practicing the following joints: Half Lap, Mortice and Tenon, Dove Tail, T Halving, Bridal and Dowel Joint. Once you are confident with the individual joints, you can extend your learning by producing a five joint frame using all the skills learned constructing the individual joints. These joints are used in every day joinery projects. Once you have mastered these you can go on to make individual projects.
You will be shown how to use the tools correctly and how to sharpen/maintain carpentry hand tools.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

This is a course for beginners. No previous experience is necessary.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will have the opportunity to:
• Identify and name common carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use them safely
• Produce woodwork joints

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

If you choose to wear Steel Toe Capped Boots (which we recommend), costs start at approx. £20 from hardware stores.
The wood for the joint practice and 6 joint frame will be provided.

For the first session you will need to bring:

A pencil and notepad. No sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting. Hair must also be tied back. You are advised to wear steel toe cap boots in the workshop. Wood for the joints and frame project will be provided.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

DIY Improvers, Make a planter in a day, upholstery or similar.
The Adult Learn and Train office is also able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

Creative Writing for Improvers is an 8-week course focusing on deepening and broadening the skills required for successful storytelling. Whether you are crafting fiction for personal pleasure and achievement or with the desire to share your work with others, the more you can write with confidence and authority the more engaging your story will be. Creative Writing for Improvers will give you the opportunity to try different techniques and approaches to hone your writing style or maybe try a different method of storytelling. The current pandemic has caused many of us to seek out purposeful activities that feed the soul and promote good mental health by providing a focus for concentrated thought. Engaging in writing is to discover the long-lasting well-being benefits that come from harnessing creative energy to work on something that is both stimulating and results in a sense of satisfaction of a job done to the best of your ability.  

Creative Writing for Improvers will give you the opportunity to experiment with new skills or techniques by working on a writing project under the guidance of an experienced writing tutor and published novelist. You may want to start a new short story or novel or perhaps revive a work that has languished in the bottom drawer for far too long, either way this course will help make the resulting storytelling the best it can possibly be. Crafting fiction is not concerned with striving for unobtainable perfection but is about practising the skills required whilst developing an understanding of how you can shape your story into the vision of your imagination.  

As the ethos of Creative Writing for Improvers is to use active storytelling as a vehicle for learning it is necessary for participants to embark upon or resume a piece of fiction and to be prepared to progress the writing project between classes. Some prior experience in writing fiction / storytelling is required as a bedrock to build on but as plenty of opportunity will be given to recap the skills and craft of creative writing it doesn’t matter how rusty that experience has become. For every writer the foundations of a successful story well told have always been a pinch of inspiration, a bucketful of enthusiasm to learn, and barrowloads of motivation. So bring those along with you and unlock your storytelling potential.  

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Some prior experience in writing fiction / storytelling is required as a foundation to build on.   

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Identify writing goals and ways of working to achieve them. 

• Differentiate the elements required in successful storytelling. 
• Give and receive targeted feedback. 
• Identify strengths and areas for improvement in the skills and craft of creative writing. 
• Formulate a strategy for progressing the writing project. 

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None 

For the first session you will need to bring:

Writing materials (pen / pencil and paper / notebook).  

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?   

Creative Writing: Advanced Storytelling 

Writing Life Stories  

Brief Description

This course is suitable for you if you are a beginner with little musical knowledge or experience (approximately 20 hours experience). Techniques and skills will be aimed at preparing you to play any style of guitar music. The course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, successful tuning and replacing strings, playing/performance techniques and building a repertoire of songs and exercises. You will need to bring your own guitar to classes.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Skills attained in Guitar Beginners 1

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course the participants will be able to:
• To read music to the 2nd level/reading music with two voices
• To play barre chords and learn how to find inversions of major, minor and 7th chords
• To increase repertoire of tablature riffs and songs
• Play chord progressions to well-known songs
• Develop skills in picking and strumming techniques
• Play major and minor scales with a mind to improvise.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Cost of a method book available from the tutor at the first session. Approximate cost £6.00

For the first session you will need to bring:

One working guitar; acoustic, classical or steel string.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Guitar Beginners 3.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Click here to view all courses available

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED?

This course is NOT suitable for beginners. Previous experience essential.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify and name carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use machines and tools safely
• Produce woodwork joints (wood provided)
• Produce your own project (wood not provided)

EXTRA COSTS ON THE COURSE FOR EXAMPLE TEXT BOOK, MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT:

You are advised to wear steel toecap boots in the workshop these will cost approx. £20 from hardware stores.

FOR THE FIRST SESSION YOU WILL NEED TO BRING:

A pencil and notepad. Please note: NO sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting.

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, WHAT MIGHT YOUR NEXT STEPS BE?

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description

Writing life stories is about capturing personal experiences in a way that can be understood and enjoyed by others. Everyone has a story to tell because every one of us has lived a life unique to us. Some people want to set down their journey through life to pass on to children or grandchildren whilst others may want to write an account of their family history. Perhaps you have a diary written by a relative or letters or recordings of the stories told down through the generations that you would like to pull together in a way that can give others a glimpse into what it might’ve been like to be that person. Writing life stories always starts with the desire to explore what the intensely personal experience of living might be like from someone else’s perspective and sharing in that perspective can enrich our own lives. 

Our recent personal and community experience of the COVID pandemic has led many of us to want to capture what we and others have been through in a way that means our memories of it can be revisited and never be forgotten. Memories that are shared remain relevant, teach us something about the past and present and, most importantly of all, are not lost as time moves on and the world changes around us. 

So if you want to share memories of a loved one or tell your story to others or spark new interest in the experiences of a family member from the past, a short course of Writing Life Stories will lead you through how to go about getting started. If you know the skills required and the various ways of tackling and presenting a life story project your enjoyment of writing one will be enhanced, and the finished result will be something others will want to read. 

This course may be funded by Cambridgeshire Skills, so full attendance is required; you will also need to complete an enrolment form so that the office can apply for the funding and complete an individual learning plan weekly with your tutor.

This course may be fully funded if:
You are over 19 years old
You live within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority
and have lived in the UK / an EEA country for the last 3 years.

Contact the office if you would like to confirm your eligibility.

If you do not qualify for funding but would still like to attend contact the office for a price.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify the different ways a life story can be told.
• Recognise what makes a life story interesting and compelling.
• Formulate a plan to organise material and any necessary research.
• Write a short piece of memoir.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None

For the first session you will need to bring:

Paper and pen/pencil.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Creative Writing for Beginners
Next Steps in Creative Writing.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description

This course is suitable for you if have completed approximately 40 hours of lessons. Techniques and skills will be aimed at preparing you to play any style of guitar music. The course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, successful tuning and replacing strings, playing/performance techniques and building a repertoire of songs and exercises. You will need to bring your own guitar to classes.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Skills attained in Guitar Beginners 1 and 2

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course you will be able to:
1. Read music and understand musical terms to the 3rd level
2. Play major, minor and pentatonic scales with a mind to improvise
3. Extend repertoire of songs to the third level
4. Increase knowledge of chords and music theory and it’s use in more challenging material.
5. Develop picking, finger style and strumming techniques through study of new material

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Cost of a method book available from the tutor at the first session. Approximate cost £5.50

For the first session you will need to bring:

One working guitar; acoustic, classical or steel string.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Your tutor will advise you.
The Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

A course centered around working with timber. You will be learning and practicing the following joints: Half Lap, Mortice and Tenon, Dove Tail, T Halving, Bridal and Dowel Joint. Once you are confident with the individual joints, you can extend your learning by producing a five joint frame using all the skills learned constructing the individual joints. These joints are used in every day joinery projects. Once you have mastered these you can go on to make individual projects.
You will be shown how to use the tools correctly and how to sharpen/maintain carpentry hand tools.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

This is a course for beginners. No previous experience is necessary.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will have the opportunity to:
• Identify and name common carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use them safely
• Produce woodwork joints

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

If you choose to wear Steel Toe Capped Boots (which we recommend), costs start at approx. £20 from hardware stores.
The wood for the joint practice and 6 joint frame will be provided.

For the first session you will need to bring:

A pencil and notepad. No sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting. Hair must also be tied back. You are advised to wear steel toe cap boots in the workshop. Wood for the joints and frame project will be provided.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

DIY Improvers, Make a planter in a day, upholstery or similar.
The Adult Learn and Train office is also able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

Creative Writing for Improvers is an 8-week course focusing on deepening and broadening the skills required for successful storytelling. Whether you are crafting fiction for personal pleasure and achievement or with the desire to share your work with others, the more you can write with confidence and authority the more engaging your story will be. Creative Writing for Improvers will give you the opportunity to try different techniques and approaches to hone your writing style or maybe try a different method of storytelling. The current pandemic has caused many of us to seek out purposeful activities that feed the soul and promote good mental health by providing a focus for concentrated thought. Engaging in writing is to discover the long-lasting well-being benefits that come from harnessing creative energy to work on something that is both stimulating and results in a sense of satisfaction of a job done to the best of your ability.  

Creative Writing for Improvers will give you the opportunity to experiment with new skills or techniques by working on a writing project under the guidance of an experienced writing tutor and published novelist. You may want to start a new short story or novel or perhaps revive a work that has languished in the bottom drawer for far too long, either way this course will help make the resulting storytelling the best it can possibly be. Crafting fiction is not concerned with striving for unobtainable perfection but is about practising the skills required whilst developing an understanding of how you can shape your story into the vision of your imagination.  

As the ethos of Creative Writing for Improvers is to use active storytelling as a vehicle for learning it is necessary for participants to embark upon or resume a piece of fiction and to be prepared to progress the writing project between classes. Some prior experience in writing fiction / storytelling is required as a bedrock to build on but as plenty of opportunity will be given to recap the skills and craft of creative writing it doesn’t matter how rusty that experience has become. For every writer the foundations of a successful story well told have always been a pinch of inspiration, a bucketful of enthusiasm to learn, and barrowloads of motivation. So bring those along with you and unlock your storytelling potential.  

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Some prior experience in writing fiction / storytelling is required as a foundation to build on.   

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Identify writing goals and ways of working to achieve them. 

• Differentiate the elements required in successful storytelling. 
• Give and receive targeted feedback. 
• Identify strengths and areas for improvement in the skills and craft of creative writing. 
• Formulate a strategy for progressing the writing project. 

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None 

For the first session you will need to bring:

Writing materials (pen / pencil and paper / notebook).  

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?   

Creative Writing: Advanced Storytelling 

Writing Life Stories  

Brief Description

This course is suitable for you if you are a beginner with little musical knowledge or experience (approximately 20 hours experience). Techniques and skills will be aimed at preparing you to play any style of guitar music. The course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, successful tuning and replacing strings, playing/performance techniques and building a repertoire of songs and exercises. You will need to bring your own guitar to classes.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Skills attained in Guitar Beginners 1

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course the participants will be able to:
• To read music to the 2nd level/reading music with two voices
• To play barre chords and learn how to find inversions of major, minor and 7th chords
• To increase repertoire of tablature riffs and songs
• Play chord progressions to well-known songs
• Develop skills in picking and strumming techniques
• Play major and minor scales with a mind to improvise.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Cost of a method book available from the tutor at the first session. Approximate cost £6.00

For the first session you will need to bring:

One working guitar; acoustic, classical or steel string.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Guitar Beginners 3.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Click here to view all courses available

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED?

This course is NOT suitable for beginners. Previous experience essential.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify and name carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use machines and tools safely
• Produce woodwork joints (wood provided)
• Produce your own project (wood not provided)

EXTRA COSTS ON THE COURSE FOR EXAMPLE TEXT BOOK, MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT:

You are advised to wear steel toecap boots in the workshop these will cost approx. £20 from hardware stores.

FOR THE FIRST SESSION YOU WILL NEED TO BRING:

A pencil and notepad. Please note: NO sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting.

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, WHAT MIGHT YOUR NEXT STEPS BE?

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description

Writing life stories is about capturing personal experiences in a way that can be understood and enjoyed by others. Everyone has a story to tell because every one of us has lived a life unique to us. Some people want to set down their journey through life to pass on to children or grandchildren whilst others may want to write an account of their family history. Perhaps you have a diary written by a relative or letters or recordings of the stories told down through the generations that you would like to pull together in a way that can give others a glimpse into what it might’ve been like to be that person. Writing life stories always starts with the desire to explore what the intensely personal experience of living might be like from someone else’s perspective and sharing in that perspective can enrich our own lives. 

Our recent personal and community experience of the COVID pandemic has led many of us to want to capture what we and others have been through in a way that means our memories of it can be revisited and never be forgotten. Memories that are shared remain relevant, teach us something about the past and present and, most importantly of all, are not lost as time moves on and the world changes around us. 

So if you want to share memories of a loved one or tell your story to others or spark new interest in the experiences of a family member from the past, a short course of Writing Life Stories will lead you through how to go about getting started. If you know the skills required and the various ways of tackling and presenting a life story project your enjoyment of writing one will be enhanced, and the finished result will be something others will want to read. 

This course may be funded by Cambridgeshire Skills, so full attendance is required; you will also need to complete an enrolment form so that the office can apply for the funding and complete an individual learning plan weekly with your tutor.

This course may be fully funded if:
You are over 19 years old
You live within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority
and have lived in the UK / an EEA country for the last 3 years.

Contact the office if you would like to confirm your eligibility.

If you do not qualify for funding but would still like to attend contact the office for a price.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify the different ways a life story can be told.
• Recognise what makes a life story interesting and compelling.
• Formulate a plan to organise material and any necessary research.
• Write a short piece of memoir.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None

For the first session you will need to bring:

Paper and pen/pencil.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Creative Writing for Beginners
Next Steps in Creative Writing.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

On this day school get a brief introduction into the world of Criminology. This course is designed for beginners and those with some previous experience of the subject.
You will discover what Criminology is and what it means in 2024.

Crime is a major issue in society, it makes some people afraid, for others it is a way of life but for the majority of the public there is an interest which has given birth to a whole industry in fiction and non-fiction storytelling via films, books and magazines. Crime ranges from the non-violent and trivial to serious and violent (including murder).

This course looks at various topics including; the definition of crime, the causes of crime, types of crime, who is a criminal, reporting crime and why it is important, who are the victims of crime, a brief overview of the criminal justice system and why are we so fascinated and appalled by crime.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

No previous experience or knowledge is required, but a keen interest in criminology or other social sciences would be an advantage.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will have:

• Gain a general overview of the crime picture in the UK, and how it is dealt with in terms of the policing and courts system.
• Contribute in a meaningful way to criminological debates.
• Understand how media representations of crime can manipulate public opinions and perceptions of crime.
• Understand the social, political and economic implications of crime.

For the first session you will need to bring….

There is no requirement for a course book as one will be provided, it is also recommended that you bring along a pen and paper for note taking if you wish to do so.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

The tutor will advise you on next steps courses.
The Adult Learn and Train office is also able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Brief Description

This course is suitable for you if have completed approximately 40 hours of lessons. Techniques and skills will be aimed at preparing you to play any style of guitar music. The course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, successful tuning and replacing strings, playing/performance techniques and building a repertoire of songs and exercises. You will need to bring your own guitar to classes.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Skills attained in Guitar Beginners 1 and 2

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course you will be able to:
1. Read music and understand musical terms to the 3rd level
2. Play major, minor and pentatonic scales with a mind to improvise
3. Extend repertoire of songs to the third level
4. Increase knowledge of chords and music theory and it’s use in more challenging material.
5. Develop picking, finger style and strumming techniques through study of new material

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Cost of a method book available from the tutor at the first session. Approximate cost £5.50

For the first session you will need to bring:

One working guitar; acoustic, classical or steel string.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Your tutor will advise you.
The Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

A course centered around working with timber. You will be learning and practicing the following joints: Half Lap, Mortice and Tenon, Dove Tail, T Halving, Bridal and Dowel Joint. Once you are confident with the individual joints, you can extend your learning by producing a five joint frame using all the skills learned constructing the individual joints. These joints are used in every day joinery projects. Once you have mastered these you can go on to make individual projects.
You will be shown how to use the tools correctly and how to sharpen/maintain carpentry hand tools.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

This is a course for beginners. No previous experience is necessary.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will have the opportunity to:
• Identify and name common carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use them safely
• Produce woodwork joints

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

If you choose to wear Steel Toe Capped Boots (which we recommend), costs start at approx. £20 from hardware stores.
The wood for the joint practice and 6 joint frame will be provided.

For the first session you will need to bring:

A pencil and notepad. No sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting. Hair must also be tied back. You are advised to wear steel toe cap boots in the workshop. Wood for the joints and frame project will be provided.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

DIY Improvers, Make a planter in a day, upholstery or similar.
The Adult Learn and Train office is also able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

Creative Writing for Improvers is an 8-week course focusing on deepening and broadening the skills required for successful storytelling. Whether you are crafting fiction for personal pleasure and achievement or with the desire to share your work with others, the more you can write with confidence and authority the more engaging your story will be. Creative Writing for Improvers will give you the opportunity to try different techniques and approaches to hone your writing style or maybe try a different method of storytelling. The current pandemic has caused many of us to seek out purposeful activities that feed the soul and promote good mental health by providing a focus for concentrated thought. Engaging in writing is to discover the long-lasting well-being benefits that come from harnessing creative energy to work on something that is both stimulating and results in a sense of satisfaction of a job done to the best of your ability.  

Creative Writing for Improvers will give you the opportunity to experiment with new skills or techniques by working on a writing project under the guidance of an experienced writing tutor and published novelist. You may want to start a new short story or novel or perhaps revive a work that has languished in the bottom drawer for far too long, either way this course will help make the resulting storytelling the best it can possibly be. Crafting fiction is not concerned with striving for unobtainable perfection but is about practising the skills required whilst developing an understanding of how you can shape your story into the vision of your imagination.  

As the ethos of Creative Writing for Improvers is to use active storytelling as a vehicle for learning it is necessary for participants to embark upon or resume a piece of fiction and to be prepared to progress the writing project between classes. Some prior experience in writing fiction / storytelling is required as a bedrock to build on but as plenty of opportunity will be given to recap the skills and craft of creative writing it doesn’t matter how rusty that experience has become. For every writer the foundations of a successful story well told have always been a pinch of inspiration, a bucketful of enthusiasm to learn, and barrowloads of motivation. So bring those along with you and unlock your storytelling potential.  

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Some prior experience in writing fiction / storytelling is required as a foundation to build on.   

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Identify writing goals and ways of working to achieve them. 

• Differentiate the elements required in successful storytelling. 
• Give and receive targeted feedback. 
• Identify strengths and areas for improvement in the skills and craft of creative writing. 
• Formulate a strategy for progressing the writing project. 

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None 

For the first session you will need to bring:

Writing materials (pen / pencil and paper / notebook).  

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?   

Creative Writing: Advanced Storytelling 

Writing Life Stories  

Brief Description

This course is suitable for you if you are a beginner with little musical knowledge or experience (approximately 20 hours experience). Techniques and skills will be aimed at preparing you to play any style of guitar music. The course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, successful tuning and replacing strings, playing/performance techniques and building a repertoire of songs and exercises. You will need to bring your own guitar to classes.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Skills attained in Guitar Beginners 1

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course the participants will be able to:
• To read music to the 2nd level/reading music with two voices
• To play barre chords and learn how to find inversions of major, minor and 7th chords
• To increase repertoire of tablature riffs and songs
• Play chord progressions to well-known songs
• Develop skills in picking and strumming techniques
• Play major and minor scales with a mind to improvise.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Cost of a method book available from the tutor at the first session. Approximate cost £6.00

For the first session you will need to bring:

One working guitar; acoustic, classical or steel string.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Guitar Beginners 3.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Click here to view all courses available

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED?

This course is NOT suitable for beginners. Previous experience essential.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify and name carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use machines and tools safely
• Produce woodwork joints (wood provided)
• Produce your own project (wood not provided)

EXTRA COSTS ON THE COURSE FOR EXAMPLE TEXT BOOK, MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT:

You are advised to wear steel toecap boots in the workshop these will cost approx. £20 from hardware stores.

FOR THE FIRST SESSION YOU WILL NEED TO BRING:

A pencil and notepad. Please note: NO sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting.

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, WHAT MIGHT YOUR NEXT STEPS BE?

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description

Writing life stories is about capturing personal experiences in a way that can be understood and enjoyed by others. Everyone has a story to tell because every one of us has lived a life unique to us. Some people want to set down their journey through life to pass on to children or grandchildren whilst others may want to write an account of their family history. Perhaps you have a diary written by a relative or letters or recordings of the stories told down through the generations that you would like to pull together in a way that can give others a glimpse into what it might’ve been like to be that person. Writing life stories always starts with the desire to explore what the intensely personal experience of living might be like from someone else’s perspective and sharing in that perspective can enrich our own lives. 

Our recent personal and community experience of the COVID pandemic has led many of us to want to capture what we and others have been through in a way that means our memories of it can be revisited and never be forgotten. Memories that are shared remain relevant, teach us something about the past and present and, most importantly of all, are not lost as time moves on and the world changes around us. 

So if you want to share memories of a loved one or tell your story to others or spark new interest in the experiences of a family member from the past, a short course of Writing Life Stories will lead you through how to go about getting started. If you know the skills required and the various ways of tackling and presenting a life story project your enjoyment of writing one will be enhanced, and the finished result will be something others will want to read. 

This course may be funded by Cambridgeshire Skills, so full attendance is required; you will also need to complete an enrolment form so that the office can apply for the funding and complete an individual learning plan weekly with your tutor.

This course may be fully funded if:
You are over 19 years old
You live within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority
and have lived in the UK / an EEA country for the last 3 years.

Contact the office if you would like to confirm your eligibility.

If you do not qualify for funding but would still like to attend contact the office for a price.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify the different ways a life story can be told.
• Recognise what makes a life story interesting and compelling.
• Formulate a plan to organise material and any necessary research.
• Write a short piece of memoir.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None

For the first session you will need to bring:

Paper and pen/pencil.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Creative Writing for Beginners
Next Steps in Creative Writing.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description

This course is suitable for you if have completed approximately 40 hours of lessons. Techniques and skills will be aimed at preparing you to play any style of guitar music. The course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, successful tuning and replacing strings, playing/performance techniques and building a repertoire of songs and exercises. You will need to bring your own guitar to classes.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Skills attained in Guitar Beginners 1 and 2

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course you will be able to:
1. Read music and understand musical terms to the 3rd level
2. Play major, minor and pentatonic scales with a mind to improvise
3. Extend repertoire of songs to the third level
4. Increase knowledge of chords and music theory and it’s use in more challenging material.
5. Develop picking, finger style and strumming techniques through study of new material

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Cost of a method book available from the tutor at the first session. Approximate cost £5.50

For the first session you will need to bring:

One working guitar; acoustic, classical or steel string.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Your tutor will advise you.
The Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

A course centered around working with timber. You will be learning and practicing the following joints: Half Lap, Mortice and Tenon, Dove Tail, T Halving, Bridal and Dowel Joint. Once you are confident with the individual joints, you can extend your learning by producing a five joint frame using all the skills learned constructing the individual joints. These joints are used in every day joinery projects. Once you have mastered these you can go on to make individual projects.
You will be shown how to use the tools correctly and how to sharpen/maintain carpentry hand tools.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

This is a course for beginners. No previous experience is necessary.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will have the opportunity to:
• Identify and name common carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use them safely
• Produce woodwork joints

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

If you choose to wear Steel Toe Capped Boots (which we recommend), costs start at approx. £20 from hardware stores.
The wood for the joint practice and 6 joint frame will be provided.

For the first session you will need to bring:

A pencil and notepad. No sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting. Hair must also be tied back. You are advised to wear steel toe cap boots in the workshop. Wood for the joints and frame project will be provided.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

DIY Improvers, Make a planter in a day, upholstery or similar.
The Adult Learn and Train office is also able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description

This course is suitable for you if you are a beginner with little musical knowledge or experience (approximately 20 hours experience). Techniques and skills will be aimed at preparing you to play any style of guitar music. The course will provide an introduction to reading music and tablature, successful tuning and replacing strings, playing/performance techniques and building a repertoire of songs and exercises. You will need to bring your own guitar to classes.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Skills attained in Guitar Beginners 1

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course the participants will be able to:
• To read music to the 2nd level/reading music with two voices
• To play barre chords and learn how to find inversions of major, minor and 7th chords
• To increase repertoire of tablature riffs and songs
• Play chord progressions to well-known songs
• Develop skills in picking and strumming techniques
• Play major and minor scales with a mind to improvise.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Cost of a method book available from the tutor at the first session. Approximate cost £6.00

For the first session you will need to bring:

One working guitar; acoustic, classical or steel string.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Guitar Beginners 3.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Click here to view all courses available

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED?

This course is NOT suitable for beginners. Previous experience essential.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify and name carpentry tools
• Know how to maintain carpentry tools
• Learn how to use machines and tools safely
• Produce woodwork joints (wood provided)
• Produce your own project (wood not provided)

EXTRA COSTS ON THE COURSE FOR EXAMPLE TEXT BOOK, MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT:

You are advised to wear steel toecap boots in the workshop these will cost approx. £20 from hardware stores.

FOR THE FIRST SESSION YOU WILL NEED TO BRING:

A pencil and notepad. Please note: NO sandals, or open-toed shoes are allowed in a workshop setting.

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, WHAT MIGHT YOUR NEXT STEPS BE?

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description

Writing life stories is about capturing personal experiences in a way that can be understood and enjoyed by others. Everyone has a story to tell because every one of us has lived a life unique to us. Some people want to set down their journey through life to pass on to children or grandchildren whilst others may want to write an account of their family history. Perhaps you have a diary written by a relative or letters or recordings of the stories told down through the generations that you would like to pull together in a way that can give others a glimpse into what it might’ve been like to be that person. Writing life stories always starts with the desire to explore what the intensely personal experience of living might be like from someone else’s perspective and sharing in that perspective can enrich our own lives. 

Our recent personal and community experience of the COVID pandemic has led many of us to want to capture what we and others have been through in a way that means our memories of it can be revisited and never be forgotten. Memories that are shared remain relevant, teach us something about the past and present and, most importantly of all, are not lost as time moves on and the world changes around us. 

So if you want to share memories of a loved one or tell your story to others or spark new interest in the experiences of a family member from the past, a short course of Writing Life Stories will lead you through how to go about getting started. If you know the skills required and the various ways of tackling and presenting a life story project your enjoyment of writing one will be enhanced, and the finished result will be something others will want to read. 

This course may be funded by Cambridgeshire Skills, so full attendance is required; you will also need to complete an enrolment form so that the office can apply for the funding and complete an individual learning plan weekly with your tutor.

This course may be fully funded if:
You are over 19 years old
You live within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority
and have lived in the UK / an EEA country for the last 3 years.

Contact the office if you would like to confirm your eligibility.

If you do not qualify for funding but would still like to attend contact the office for a price.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

None.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to:

• Identify the different ways a life story can be told.
• Recognise what makes a life story interesting and compelling.
• Formulate a plan to organise material and any necessary research.
• Write a short piece of memoir.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

None

For the first session you will need to bring:

Paper and pen/pencil.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Creative Writing for Beginners
Next Steps in Creative Writing.
The Adult Learn and Train office is able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.

Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.

Brief Description:

You will have a very busy five hours working on basic bread making techniques!

You will make four breads: basic wholewheat, soft white rolls, soda bread and pizzas.

You will come away fired up to never buy a loaf of bread from the supermarket again!

The course includes the whole bread making cycle: yeast, mixing, proving, shaping and cooking.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

No experience needed – just the desire to make bread.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will have the opportunity to:
 Reliably make bread
 Be aware of some the pitfalls
 Have the confidence to try new breads
 Make great pizzas

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

Ingredients – the tutor will bring the ingredients for the day. Please bring along £10 cash to pay him directly.

For the first session you will need to bring:

Apron, tea towel, dish cloth and a container to take your food home.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

The college offers lots of exciting cookery classes throughout the year.
Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more.