Click drop down menus below for more information or contact us on 01325 405601
These courses are designed for adults who may benefit from additional support to build confidence, raise aspirations, and re-engage with learning in a supportive fun and engaging group.
Learners enrolments will need to meet the current eligibility criteria supplied by Tees Valley Combined Authority in terms of postcode.
Priority will be given to individuals who:
Where a learner has none or limited qualifications and lives outside the postcode area, their enrolment will be discussed as we have a lot to offer and we could have just what you are looking for!
Please note, the above criteria applies to those living in Tees Valley and Darlington only, it does not apply to learners living in North Yorkshire.
If unsure, please contact us.
Take a look at our full range of courses below.
Cooking courses Creative courses Family learning courses Health & wellbeing courses Intensive Support
This course is for anybody aged 19+ who wants to learn how to create simple and affordable meals. The course will cover food costing comparisons, supermarket tricks and plenty of recipes, like homemade pizzas, quiche and soup. This course is taught in-person so you can get hands on with the cooking for the most effective learning.
This course is for anybody aged 19+ who wants to learn how to create simple and cheap meals.
This course will support you in being able to create delicious meals on a budget, meal plan and support with money saving top tips.
You could continue onto one of our many other courses, such as Distance Learning or CPD courses that will be made available to you.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed
| When |
Where |
Time |
Length |
|
8th Sept - 6th Oct 2026 |
McNay Street Family Hub, Darlington |
10am - 12pm |
5 weeks |
|
8th Sept - 6th Oct 2026 |
The Edge Centre, Darlington |
1pm - 3pm |
5 weeks |
You will not need to bring anything along to these sessions just roll your sleeves up and try something new or develop an existing skill.
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
Embark on a global culinary adventure in Round the World Cooking, this course celebrates diversity through food and equips learners with practical skills to recreate international meals at home. No prior cooking experience required—just bring your appetite and curiosity!
The course is for anyone age19 +. This free course is for 5 weeks at various venues and times across the town.
Are you spending loads of money on takeaways but just love those delicious flavours? Looking for some healthier alternatives?
This interesting and exciting course will give you the motivation to get you cooking these dishes from scratch.
Each week, the group will prepare and cook dishes from a different country to take home. A great way to save money and improve your health.
The course will support you to create delicious snacks and meals from around the world.
By the end of the course, you'll be able to:
You could continue onto one of our many other courses, such as Distance Learning or CPD courses that will be made available to you.
|
When |
Where |
Time |
Length |
|
10th Nov - 8th Dec 2026 |
McNay Street Family Hub, Darlington |
10am - 12pm |
5 weeks |
|
10th Nov - 8th Dec 2026 |
The Edge Centre, Darlington |
1pm - 3pm |
5 weeks |
You will not need to bring anything along to these sessions just roll your sleeves up and try something new or develop an existing skill.
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
Anyone 19+ who wants to explore arts and crafts.
There are no entry requirements for this course, only the enthusiasm to learn about and develop skills that will help their child.
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to help your child grow and learn. It aims to improve parent’s confidence and ability regarding the way they support and encourage their child’s motor and sensory skills.
Each week, we will look at different craft skills and these will vary from course to course, for example:
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance during this course.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed
Please bring:
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
This course is for anybody aged 19+ who wants to try their hand at creative writing in a friendly and encouraging environment. The course will cover specific writing techniques, creativity boosting writing exercise and how to write your own narrative. It is open to writers of all abilities and taught in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
Anyone who wants to try their hand at creative writing. Develop skills and techniques to produce descriptive and narrative pieces in a friendly and encouraging environment. Open to writers of all abilities.
This course will help you develop confidence and explore your creativity. Learn to use a range of techniques to produce written pieces.
You could continue onto one of our many other courses, such as Distance Learning or CPD courses that will be made available to you.
This course runs term time only.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed
You will not need to bring anything, simply roll your sleeves up and try something new or develop an existing skill.
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
This course is for anybody aged 19+ who wants to try their hand at creating festive arts and crafts in a friendly and encouraging environment.
Anyone who wants to try their hand at creating festive arts and crafts
This course will support you in being able to create fun and quirky festive crafts.
White clay decorations
Needle felting Christmas decorations
Macrame
Decorated light up jars
Pebble art on wooden circle
You could continue onto one of our many other courses, such as Distance Learning or CPD courses that will be made available to you.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
You will not need to bring anything, simply roll your sleeves up and try something new or develop an existing skill.
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
Spring Arts, Crafts & Cooking is a creative and hands-on course designed to spark the joys of spring through DIY projects and delicious treats. From handmade decorations and gifts to spring baked goods. Come along and enjoy making, baking, and learning in a warm, fun, friendly group.
Anyone who is 19+
This course is designed to ignite creativity, nurture practical skills, through the joyful exploration of Spring. This hands-on, seasonal course engages learners in meaningful creative and culinary experiences that reflect the spirit of giving, celebration, and community.
You could continue onto one of our many other courses, such as Distance Learning or CPD courses that will be made available to you.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
Notebook and Pen
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
This course is for adults who want to learn the basics of sewing and develop practical skills they can use at home or build on in future projects. Each week, the course will work on a different technique, include hand stitching, hemming, and creating simple items like bunting or cushion covers. You’ll also learn how to use a range of equipment, including sewing machines, overlockers, and digital sewing machines. This course is taught in-person so you can get hands-on experience with the tools and materials for the most effective learning.
This course is for adults who want to learn the basics of sewing and develop practical skills they can use at home or build on in future projects
This course will support you in being able to learn the basics of sewing, techniques in a fun environment
You could continue onto one of our many other courses, such as Distance Learning or CPD courses that will be made available to you.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
What do I need to bring with me?
You will not need to bring anything, simply roll your sleeves up and try something new or develop an existing skill.
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
This course is for adults who want to build upon the basics of sewing and develop practical skills they can use at home or build on in future projects. Intermediate Sewing will build upon the beginners course and look at more intermediate sewing techniques, such as garment alterations, adding zips/buttons and making a textile item. This course is taught in-person so you can get hands-on experience with the tools and materials for the most effective learning.
This course is for adults who want to build upon the basics of sewing.
This course will support you in being able to learn the basics of sewing, techniques in a fun environment
You could continue onto one of our many other courses, such as Distance Learning or CPD courses that will be made available to you.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
This course is for adults who would like to improve their first aid skills and create a safe environment for children in the home. It will centre on first aid procedures, ways to create a safe home, resuscitation skills, how to handle an emergency situation, dealing with child related emergencies and more. This course is taught in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
This course is suitable for those who would like to improve their First Aid skills and create a safe environment in their home.
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to develop your skills in creating and maintaining a safer home, developing basic first aid skills for yourself and your family, as well as supporting your own progression to further learning.
Each week we will work on different skills. The course covers:
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance during this course.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
Please bring:
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
This family-centred course is designed for parents and carers who want to strengthen family life and wellbeing. Based at the Family Hub, it focuses on bringing families together while supporting mental health, confidence and positive routines at home. You’ll learn practical techniques, including mindfulness and wellbeing activities you can do together to create a happier, healthier home environment. Sessions are delivered in person, giving you the chance to connect, ask questions and build supportive relationships.
The course is for parents, grandparents and carers of children. It is an introduction to Family Learning.
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to develop your skills in maintaining a happy and healthy home, developing self-esteem for yourself and your family, support your children at school, and support your own progression to further learning, such as Functional Skills English.
Each week, we will work on different skills. The course covers:
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance during this course.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
Please bring:
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
This course is for adults with children up to the age of 11 years old or learners looking to boost their CV for a career in schools. You will learn how to identify effective parenting strategies, support self-esteem, use positive communication skills and much more. This course is taught in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
This unaccredited course is suitable for parents and carers of children up to the age of 11 years old. It may also be suitable for those who are looking to gain skills useful when working towards volunteering in schools or for progression on to other courses.
A basic level of English is useful.
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to develop your parenting skills to support children’s learning and wellbeing. This course also aims to support you in progressing on to the next level course and to further learning opportunities.
Each week a different topic will be covered. Topics include:
You are encouraged to share appropriate personal knowledge, skills and experiences within a respectful and confidential environment.
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance during this course.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
Please bring:
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
These sessions are for parents and carers with children aged 2-5 years old who wish to spend quality time learning through play together. Within the Darlington Children’s Library, you will take part in activities such as crafts, pretend play, jigsaws, and games, all linked to our book theme of the week. While taking part in these activities you will support your child’s language development and learn how this links to early reading skills. This course is tutored in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
Parents, grandparents, and carers of children aged 2-5 years who wish to attend an interactive, playful session, which will help their child develop good language skills and a love of books.
The enthusiasm to learn about and develop skills that will help their child.
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to help your child develop a love of books. It aims to improve parent’s confidence and ability regarding the way they support and encourage their child’s reading skills.
Each week, we will work on different skills. These include:
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance during this course.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
Please bring:
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
This course is for adults who would like to improve their first aid skills and create a safe environment in the home. It will look at first aid procedures, ways to create a safe home, resuscitation skills, how to handle an emergency situation and more. This course is taught in-person so you can ask questions and get feedback freely.
This course is suitable for those who would like to improve their First Aid skills and create a safe environment in their home.
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to develop your skills in creating and maintaining a safer home, developing basic first aid skills, as well as supporting your own progression to further learning.
Each week we will work on different skills. The course covers:
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance during this course.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
Please bring:
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
Course summary
This course is for adults who want to improve their wellbeing, build positive daily habits, and make meaningful changes to their life. You will take part in a variety of practical activities, including gratitude exercises, to boost confidence, resilience, and overall happiness. Delivered in a friendly, in-person setting, the course provides a safe and supportive environment where you can ask questions, share experiences, and develop at your own pace.
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for individuals who want to develop the skills needed to create and maintain a happy, healthy home and lifestyle.
What entry requirements do I need to start the course?
What is the curriculum intent of this course?
The structure and delivery of the course’s curriculum will enable you to develop your skills in maintaining a happy and healthy home, developing self-esteem for yourself and your family, support your children at school, and support your own progression to further learning, such as Functional Skills English.
What will the course cover?
Each week, we will work on different skills. The course covers:
What could I do when I have finished this course?
After this course has finished you may like to join in with other adult learning courses, including Functional Skills English, Maths or ICT. You will be given information about other courses and guidance during this course.
Please contact us to register your interest - next course to be confirmed.
Please bring:
This course is free of charge.
If you require help with the form please contact us on 01325 405601, 07932 869325 or l&[email protected].
If you have any queries about our creative, hobbies and daily living courses, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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