Courses at local libraries

This free course (for Lancashire residents) will provide learners with the knowledge and basic lifesaving skills needed to assess and respond to a child or infant that is unresponsive and not breathing. The skills will include how to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a child and baby and how to access and use a defibrillator. Learners will also be able to recognise and treat choking. This course can be accessed either as a live online course or alternatively in a classroom face to face.

This short session builds on the skills and knowledge gained during the Lancashire Lifesavers course. This progression course provides learners with the knowledge and basic lifesaving skills needed to effectively assess and treat someone who is not breathing. The skills will include how to conduct the primary survey and deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on an adult, child and baby and how to access and use a defibrillator. This course can be accessed either as a live online course or alternatively in a classroom face to face.

This course is designed for those who wish to understand yoga, and who choose a seated version of the regular standard yoga practice. In this course learners will be building on knowledge gained from the learn the basics course, whilst exploring other elements of the philosophy behind what, why and how we practice,including an introduction to the Chakras and the Sanskrit language used in Yoga.

This course is aimed at learners who would like to further their creative writing skills beyond the introduction. Learning more about key techniques that will develop their writing style whether it be for personal wellbeing, enjoyment or for publication. Sharing work and discussing what makes good writing and how to develop it is a key element of this course.

Learners will also reflect on the benefits ‘connecting’ with others and ‘keeping learning’ can bring to your mental health and wellbeing.

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Focusing on an area of Manchester known as Angel Meadow; which once considered to be the worst slum in Europe, learners will explore social conditions for working people; their work, entertainment, homes,
education, immigration and employment that affected their lives. Using timelines, maps, pictures and personal accounts, learners will investigate the time.

Learners will also reflect on the benefits ‘connecting’ with others and ‘keeping learning’ can bring to your mental health and wellbeing.

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Learners will explore witchcraft and the witch trials of the 1600s in Lancashire, in particular the story of the Pendle Witches. Looking at common misconceptions about witchcraft and the reasons for the Pendle Witch trials in Lancaster. Examining later witch trials and the work of the Witchfinder General as well as the demise of the ‘witch craze’.

Learners will also reflect on the benefits ‘connecting’ with others and ‘keeping learning’ can bring to your mental health and wellbeing.

It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong with us, but how often do we focus on what’s right with us?
This course enables you recognise and improve your levels of confidence and self-esteem by recognising your skills, strengths and achievements in order to build you up and improve your overall wellbeing.
By working on your confidence, you will affect not only your own life, but the lives of those around you, enabling you to move forward towards your goals.
The course is two and a half hours per session and is delivered over two individual sessions or weeks. This can be adapted to the group as required.

If a creative taster session at your local library has got you inspired, then you can progress onto this course to try out more Arts based activities on this next step course. This course provides a chance to get creative and try out a range of Arts techniques, working with a range of mediums and activities including; paper, collage, sewing, and mark making. Take time out to relax and try new things using minimal materials, that you can easily continue with at home.

This short course will introduce learners to simple drawing techniques and activities that will aid relaxation and being present (in the moment.) Learners will explore line, pattern, and tone to create visually pleasing designs whilst benefitting from the relaxing creative process. Learners will also reflect on the positive benefits engaging in creative activities can have on your mental health and wellbeing.

This course is designed to serve as a taste of drawing and painting media, techniques and processes through an introduction into experimental drawing and reflective annotation.

You will engage in a range of guided explorations of wet and dry supports, media and applications using traditional and non – traditional tools and techniques.

You will be facilitated in reflecting on and evaluating outcomes using subject specific terminology and analytical skills.

You will participate in group discussions of experimental outcomes by a range of Artists from different cultures, eras and backgrounds. You will discuss the properties of the drawings and decipher media, technique, process and personal preference before engaging in the production of informed finished pieces using combined media and approaches.

This programme is designed with beginners in mind and no prior experience is necessary, although some learners may have some previous informal learning experience within the overall curriculum area.

You will be learning over five weekly sessions at 2.5 hours per session, inclusive of tidy up time!

Your tutor will be available for feedback and Q&A at designated time slots throughout the duration of your course.

This course is designed with beginners in mind and has been designed to provide learners with a broad experience of print making techniques and processes. Learners will engage in a range of guided explorations, using the work of artists as inspiration. Reflecting on and evaluating outcomes of prints produced, learners will develop their subject terminology and analytical skills.

This Course is designed for face to face community delivery. You will require basic level (level 2) maths and English skills, the ability to read and follow instructions and participate in group discussions.

This course if for beginners and no prior experience in the subject field is necessary.

Course Overview:

Focussing on process over outcome, this taster session is designed to encourage you to connect with your inner-self and the materials through the catharsis of exploring the potential of different brushes and tools to move and manipulate paint in different ways.

You will discover how to free up your style and begin your journey of self-expression through art.

You will engage in a range of guided explorations in different media to further your understanding and practice in observing and recording colour for different purposes. You will be facilitated in reflecting on and evaluating outcomes using subject specific terminology and analytical skills. You will participate in group discussions of relevant examples by a range of Artists from different cultures, eras and backgrounds.

You will be asked to discuss your individual interests, aspirations and experience within the subject and take part in a range of simple exercises and discussions in order to negotiate individual learning goals. This programme is designed with beginners in mind although some learners may have some previous informal learning experience within the overall curriculum area.

You will be learning over one weekly session at 2.5 hours, inclusive of tidying away your own materials.

This short course which will introduce learners to the basics of creative writing, alongside providing tips and ideas on how to get started and keep going. Reviewing some of the key techniques for writing description, bringing a piece of writing alive, writing dialogue, and creating believable characters.

Learners will also reflect on the benefits ‘connecting’ with others and ‘keeping learning’ can bring to your mental health and wellbeing.

We all need times in our lives when we can ‘press the pause button.’ The fast pace of society and the many demands on us can make us feel stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted.

This course will teach learners how to slow down and take time out, using different breathing techniques and relaxation methods to become calm and restful, resulting in reduced stress, increased energy and improvements to overall wellbeing.

The course is 5 hours in duration and is delivered over two individual sessions or weeks. This can be adapted to the group as required.

Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) are working in partnership with North West Ambulance Service, BBC Radio Lancashire and Lancashire County Council to provide free training as part of the #LancashireLifesaver Campaign. The aim is to train as many people as possible in essential lifesaving skills across the county. This short session is designed to provide learners with the knowledge and skills needed if someone suffers a heart attack or a cardiac arrest. The skills will include how to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on an adult, and how to access and use a defibrillator. Progression is an option but not expected upon completion of this aim.

Indulge a child’s curiosity with this fun, interactive course. Parents/carers will work with their children to use digital resources and create programmable models that move, make sounds and change colours!

Use Lego kits to encourage your child to learn skills such as creativity, problem solving and dexterity and spend time together in a supported environment.

The course enables learners to build confidence with technical equipment and begin a coding journey to encourage your future engineers!

Challenge a child’s imagination with this cool, interactive course. Parents/carers will work with their children to use digital kit and create programmable models that move, make sounds and change colours!

Use Lego kits to encourage your child to learn skills such as creativity, problem solving and dexterity and spend time together in a supported environment.

The course enables learners to build confidence with technical equipment and begin a coding journey to encourage future engineers!

This Course is designed for face to face community delivery. You will require basic level (level 2) maths and English skills, the ability to read and follow instructions and participate in group discussions.

This course is for beginners and no prior experience in the subject field is necessary.

Course Overview:

Make your mark - take a look at different ways of exploring drawing and mark making. Work with a range of tools to have fun with drawing and try out different approaches and materials.

Activities may include: Mark making to music, exploring different tools and materials with varying movement, density and pressure, exploring line quality to convey mood. Building awareness of relevant movements such as abstract and gestural expressionism.

You will be facilitated in reflecting on and evaluating outcomes using subject specific terminology and analytical skills.

You will be asked to discuss your individual interests, aspirations and experience within the subject and take part in a range of simple exercises and discussions in order to negotiate individual learning goals. This programme is designed with beginners in mind although some learners may have some previous informal learning experience within the overall curriculum area.

You will be learning over one weekly session at 2.5 hours, inclusive of tidying away your own materials.

Meditation has long been regarded as a beneficial technique to help calm the mind and body to improve wellbeing. This two-hour session introduces participants to the fundamentals of meditation. Learners will receive a practical hands on experience of the benefits of meditation and explores simple meditation techniques that can be built easily into daily life. Learners will leave with clear understanding of how meditation can be a valuable tool for enhancing well-being and managing stress...

Mindfulness has long been recognised as beneficial to our wellbeing, but there are a lot of misconceptions about what it is exactly and why we need to start cultivating a mindful life.
This course will introduce the key elements of mindfulness practice, enabling you to identify personal benefits, undertake some basic exercises and establish regular mindful habits and practices to add to your wellbeing toolkit.

Ozobots are programmable mini robots that move and turn to the delight of children. Parents/Carers can attend the session to learn how to program and play with the Ozobots whilst learning about the basics of coding and technology.

The course encourages children to learn skills such as creativity and problem solving as well as spending time in a supported environment.

The course enables learners to build confidence with technical equipment and begin a coding journey to encourage future engineers

Identity theft can happen when you least expect it. According to the UK’s fraud protection service approximately “80% of identity fraud in the first three months of this year was either attempted or perpetrated online, with many of us unwittingly leaving ourselves exposed” (Wright, 2015).
Now you may be thinking it will never happen to me. WRONG! Without taking the correct security measures you will be leaving yourself vulnerable to thieves over the internet. This taster session will provide you with a starting point of what you need to know and do in order to protect yourself from such instances.

Materialism teaches us that the more things we have, the happier we will be; however, we often end up feeling frustrated and struggling with ‘decision fatigue’ trying to manage it all.

This course will teach learners how to escape the ‘mess stress’ by simplifying their online and offline life. Learners will discover why we end up with so much and don’t know how to manage it, alongside some of the barriers to simplify and strategies to get you moving towards a more stress-free life.

The course is 5 hours in duration and is delivered over two individual sessions or weeks.

This can be adapted to the group as required.

This follow on course (on completion of a creative wellbeing taster session) aims to further explore using creativity to benefit your wellbeing. You will experience a variety of creative techniques and activities designed to encourage mindfulness and relaxation. We will look at different skills, techniques and materials each week to give you a variety of ideas that you can continue using at home to benefit your wellbeing. This course has been designed to give you the opportunity to look at a w...

This fun, interactive craft workshop provides the perfect setting for some parent/carer and child craft time. The teacher will instruct you on how to craft spring themed decorations to welcome this beautiful season. Parents/carers with children in school will thoroughly enjoy this engagement session which will allow you to learn about simple craft activities you can copy at home as well as being informed about the other courses Lancashire Adult Learning can offer!

This fun, interactive craft workshop provides the perfect setting for some parent/carer and child craft time. The teacher will instruct you on how to craft spring themed decorations to welcome this beautiful season. Parents/carers with children in school will thoroughly enjoy this engagement session which will allow you to learn about simple craft activities you can copy at home as well as being informed about the other courses Lancashire Adult Learning can offer!

This Staying Safe Online course is ideal for those who wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of how to stay safe when using the internet. The course is designed for those beginners who wish to form a foundation knowledge of what it takes to stay safe online.

Learn what risks you may find when using the internet and how to protect yourself from those risks.

This Course is designed for face to face community delivery. You will require basic level (level 2) maths and English skills, the ability to read and follow instructions and participate in group discussions.

This course is for beginners and no prior experience in the subject field is necessary.

Course Overview:
This workshop focuses on visual recording of the senses associated with the current season.

You will consider how to record colour, texture, line and even how to visually represent the sounds and smells of the season, as you take the time to slow down and notice the world around you.

You will create a mood board of ideas and visual references that reflect the season.

You will take the time to think about how the activities have encouraged you to stay grounded in the here and now and how this has affected your wellbeing.

You will be facilitated in reflecting on and evaluating outcomes using subject specific terminology and analytical skills.

You will be asked to discuss your individual interests, aspirations and experience within the subject and take part in a range of simple exercises and discussions in order to negotiate individual learning goals. This programme is designed with beginners in mind although some learners may have some previous informal learning experience within the overall curriculum area.

You will be learning over one weekly session at 2.5 hours, inclusive of tidying away your own materials.

This fun, interactive craft workshop provides the perfect setting for some parent/carer and child craft time. The teacher will instruct you on how to craft summer decorations to welcome this beautiful season of holidays.

Parents/carers with children in school will thoroughly enjoy this engagement session which will allow you to learn about simple craft activities you can copy at home as well as being informed about the other courses Lancashire Adult Learning can offer!