Workshops

Art and Craft

Our artists paint, draw, sculpt and print with a range of media, often referring to seasonal themes inspired by the outside spaces around us. Developing creative skills and personal expression, this workshop provides imaginative support in a creative setting.

We work together to produce a range of attractive collaborative items for sale including greeting cards and calendars as well as those pieces created by our individual artists and makers.

What you will learn

Painting and drawing
Basic printmaking
3D modelling and casting
Finishing artwork to a high standard including presenting and labelling artwork ready for sale

Cooking and Life Skills

Our Cooking and Life Skills workshops focuses on developing essential skills that contribute to personal growth, independent living skills, effective communication and overall well-being. The workshops also cover a variety of topics including "the world around me", "looking after myself" and "my life, my future".

What you will learn

How to prepare, cook and bake simple, healthy and nutritious meals
Health and hygiene in the kitchen
The importance of nutrition and a healthy diet
Independent living skills including budget management, diversity, equality and citizenship, online and community safety
Thornage and Camphill Community festivals and celebrations

Current Affairs

Our current affairs workshop provides individuals with the opportunity to help make sense of the news that we are exposed to in a safe, supportive environment. We look at international, national, local and Thornage-community news to get a balance of events going on that impact our environment. This workshop also helps write and undertake interviews and photography as part of our Thornage Hall e-newsletter.

What you will learn

To improve communication, discussion and self-advocacy skills
News awareness and how to source and triangulate information on the internet
Improved spelling, punctuation and grammar
Basic use of computer software and word processing

Digital Skills

The digital skills workshop is designed to provide essential IT skills to enhance independence and participation in today's digital world. The workshop will engage in a supportive and inclusive learning environment tailored to each individual's needs, and include opportunity to improve literacy and numeracy as well as communication and listening skills.

What you will learn

Basic use of computer software and word processing
Internet navigation and how to safely source information
Improved spelling, punctuation and grammar

Farm

Step into the heart of our farm, where the dedicated hands of our farm team craft more than just a livelihood – they cultivate a way of life. At our farm workshop, the responsibilities of our team extend beyond the barns by caring for our red poll cattle, alpacas, and hens.

What you will learn

Hands on animal care
Growing field crops such as carrots, potatoes and fodder beet
Training on machinery such as the push mower, ride-on lawn mower and tractors
Working as a team to achieve tasks and learn to support each other
The importance of caring for the environment in which we live, learn and work

Garden

In the garden we aim to provide the community with a wide range of fruit and vegetables. Any excess provides produce to local shops, restaurants and our vegetable box scheme.

What you will learn

Practical skills like sowing seeds, weeding and harvesting
Where food comes from and the importance of the natural environment around us
How to procure and prepare produce for sale

Herb Processing

The herb workshop is catered to various learning styles ensuring that each service user can fully immerse themselves in the experience. A hands on workshop to learn about nature and producing herb based products.

What you will learn

The properties, history and uses of a variety of different herbs grown here at Thornage Hall
The importance of processing herbs in a clean, hygienic and safe manner to produce a finished item ready to sell
How to plant and maintain a herb garden to provide a variety of year-round plants and companion plants, both good for our own health and the natural environment
How to make infused oils, teas and other culinary products, in partnership with and benefiting our cooking and textiles workshops

Music, movement and drama

In the music, movement and drama workshop, we deliver music-based therapeutic sessions promoting musicality through instruments, singing and rhythm. Our workshop develops a group of known and rehearsed songs to perform at Thornage festivals and events throughout the year.

What you will learn

To develop an enjoyment of singing, sing broadly in tune, develop sense of pulse and rhythm, and recognise rhythmic patterns
The importance of listening, respecting others and working together as a team to deliver group musical performances
Recognising instruments by their shape and sound, being able to name a range of instruments and talk about them, as well as learning how to play
The ability to persevere and practice - remembering lyrics, tune and rhythm week on week, striving to get better and work collectively

Physical Activity

In Physical activity workshops, individuals have the opportunity to partake in a variety of different sports and games in a safe and supported environment. Improved physical and mental health, coordination, motor skills, team work and communication are all developed through fun and engaging activities including kwik cricket, boccia, table tennis and archery.

What you will learn

Physical skills including hand-eye co-ordination, dexterity and fine motor skills
Improved health and wellbeing through low-level cardiovascular activity and community engagement
Communication, team work and perseverance
Numeracy (score-keeping)

Textiles

We pride ourselves on providing a textiles workshop which is inclusive to all; a place where individuals can come and learn new skills and build on areas they wish to develop further. We support every service user to work on areas of personal interest, encouraging independent behaviours and personal development at all times.

What you will learn

Basic hand stitching for sewing practices – running stitch, back stitch, cross stitch
Knitting, crochet and tapestry work
Utilising electrical machinery as part of our textiles process including sewing machines and irons
Creating multi-media pictures of collage and stitching, in collaboration with the art workshop

Weaving

Our calm and light-filled weaving workshop gives opportunity for individuals to work with their own loom (either situated on a table-top or floor-based). We guide them through the weaving process from choosing colours and yarn, warping, dressing, cutting and finishing to end with their own complete piece. Our products range from oven gloves to wall hangings, rugs to glasses and mobile phone cases.

What you will learn

Using table and/or foot looms
The use of colour and texture within cloth
The traditional and therapeutic process of weaving
Finishing process to get cloth items ready for sale

Woodwork

This workshop provides basic woodworking skills, enabling you to create a variety of products for sale or use, from bird, bat and insect boxes to wooden ornaments and chopping boards. Working together helps improve team work and camaraderie, individual hand and eye coordination, and generates confidence and pride in a finished piece.

What you will learn

Basic woodworking skills – sawing, sanding, drilling, hammering, painting and chiselling
Using electrical power tools including pillar drill and band saw
Simple design and construction of bird, bee and insect boxes, feeders and other items
Finishing products to a high standard for sale