Cooking & Special Interest Courses
From Astronomy to Photography, Cookery to Creative Writing, find your new passion this year with one of our specialist creative learning courses.
Courses for 2024/25 are now LIVE and open for enrolment!
A 30% Early Bird Discount is available from 8:30am on Monday 1st July, until 7:00pm on Monday 30th September. The discount is available on most courses has been automatically applied to the fees displayed on our website. Browse and enrol online or call us on freephone 0800 988 0308 to speak to a member of the team today!
Cooking Courses
Boost Your Baking Skills - Part 1
This course is for anyone who wishes to become more confident in the kitchen and with their culinary abilities. Creating new recipes to share with the family, during the sessions we will cover, bread, cakes, pastry, biscuits sweet and savoury dishes and more. This course will feature a brand-new selection of recipes for you to try, which means that if you have taken a Boost Your Baking Skills course before there will be new skills to learn and develop.
More information on Boost Your Baking Skills - Part 1
Boost Your Baking Skills - Part 2
This course is for anyone who wishes to become more confident in the kitchen and with their culinary abilities. Following on from ‘part 1’, you will continue creating new recipes to share with the family, including both sweet and savoury dishes and more. This course will feature a brand-new selection of recipes for you to try, which means that if you have taken a Boost Your Baking Skills course before there will be new skills to learn and develop.
More information on Boost Your Baking Skills - Part 2
Cooking Made Easy
This course is aimed at anyone who wishes to become more confident in the kitchen and their culinary abilities. The course will be focussing on how to create healthy basic and some challenging recipes to add to your kitchen repertoire. This course features a brand-new selection of recipes for you to try, which means that if you have taken a Cooking Made Easy course before, there will be new skills to learn and develop.
More information on Cooking Made EasyOur Special Interest Courses
Astronomy - Explore the Autumn Night Sky
The course will introduce the stars and planets visible in the Autumn Night Sky. When the weather permits, the classroom sessions will be backed up by practical viewing, including the use of binoculars and telescopes. Astronomy and space stories in the news will be discussed. You will meet people with a shared interest and make new friends. There may be the opportunity to visit places of astronomical interest outside of the sessions if you wish.
More information on Astronomy - Explore the Autumn Night Sky
Astronomy - Summer Night Sky
The course will introduce the stars and planets visible in the Summer Night Sky. Astronomy and space stories in the news will be discussed. You will meet people with a shared interest and make new friends. There may be the opportunity to visit places of astronomical interest outside of the sessions if you wish.
More information on Astronomy - Summer Night Sky
Astronomy - Winter Sky Wonderland
The course will introduce the stars and planets visible in the Winter Night Sky. When the weather permits, the classroom sessions will be backed up by practical viewing, including the use of binoculars and telescopes. Astronomy and space stories in the news will be discussed. You will meet people with a shared interest and make new friends. There may be the opportunity to visit places of astronomical interest outside of the sessions if you wish.
More information on Astronomy - Winter Sky Wonderland
Photography - Learn to Use your Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)
This course is for anyone who wants to learn take a camera off auto setting and explore the creative side of photography. Using one of our cameras, or your own DSLR if you have one, you will learn how to operate a camera in manual mode using the following functions: Aperture - Shutter Speed - ISO Furthermore, how the adjustment of these functions affects the photograph’s depth of field and composition.
More information on Photography - Learn to Use your Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR)
Introduction to Novel Writing
This course is for anyone who is interested in learning how to outline, develop and write a novel or writing project. You will explore the various principles of structure, and discover which works best for you and finding your ‘voice’ also known as your writing style.
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Introduction to Screen Writing
This course will introduce you to the key elements and concepts behind screenwriting. We will look at the common vocabulary used in the film industry, how to format your script. As well as exploring the characteristics of a captivating story and how to develop a storyline with a dynamic cast of characters within the Three Act Structure, and considering the power of dialogue and character.
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Screen Writing - The Next Steps
This course will develop your existing skills to ensure you develop an inspiring premise, develop your main characters internal and external conflict. During the course you will be encouraged to start building a well-structured initial first draft of a short film, television screenplay or film with dynamic characters, and dialogue. You will be introduced to the common vocabulary used in the film industry, and the correct format for a shooting script.
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Drama for Wellbeing
This course is for anyone interested in developing skills in drama and performance. This is a practical drama course which introduces learners to a range of movement and theatre-based activities, focusing on voice, body, and text. This course aims to get you active, working both as a group and independently, building skills in confidence and collaboration.
More information on Drama for WellbeingWellbeing Saturdays
Exploring Silent Film
This one-day course is aimed at anyone interested in learning about early cinema history. Together we will watch and talk about silent films; you can also have a go at writing your own film review. We will cover topics such as early film inventions, influential actors and directors, and Hollywood film fandom. There will also be a selection of fascinating historical film objects for you to look at and explore.
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Golden Age of Hollywood
This one-day course is aimed at anyone interested in learning about the history of the Hollywood film industry. Together we will watch extracts from, and talk about, classic Hollywood films: you can also have a go at writing your own film review. We will cover topics such as film themes, influential actors and directors, and Hollywood film fandom. There will also be a selection of fascinating historical film objects for you to look at and explore.
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Introduction to Astronomy (Online)
This one-day course will introduce learners to the fascinating science of astronomy. This is one of the few sciences where amateurs can still get actively involved. Participants will be contacted by the tutor in the week before the course starts to find out about their prior experience of astronomy. This will enable the course to be pitched at an appropriate level.
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Summer Night Sky (Online)
This one-day course will introduce learners to the stars, planets and meteor showers visible on warm summer nights, and is open to people with all levels of interest and experience. Participants will be contacted by the tutor in the week before the course starts to find out about their prior experience of astronomy. This will enable the course to be pitched at an appropriate level.
More information on Summer Night Sky (Online)
Introduction to Book Binding
This one-day course is for anyone interested in learning how to create handcrafted notebooks. During this workshop participants will learn how to create by hand two traditional styles of exposed spine binding - and Coptic Binding as well as the Do-si-Do style. You will learn how to fold and manipulate paper using traditional bookbinding tools.
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Introduction to Mono Printing
This is a course aimed at the complete beginner and is open to anyone interested in learning how to roll and apply printing ink to make easy monoprints. This course will cover basic techniques of how to make a simple monoprint, at first you will use a handout to understand how to make basic mark making then will progress onto own individual drawings. There will be a range of subject matter to choose from. There will also be a short presentation on other artists’ Mono Printing too.
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Introduction to Lino Printing
This is a one-day workshop introducing you to the practice of lino printing. This printing involves cutting away from a block of linoleum and inking and printing the uncut areas then placing your carved, inked up block face down on a sheet of paper to create a printed image. Designs to use will be available and you will be guided through the process from beginning an initial drawing, to transferring this to your block, cutting away from this, and then printing the image.
More information on Introduction to Lino PrintingLearn at the following venues
Enderby Adult Learning Centre
- Enderby Adult Learning Centre, Townsend Rd, Enderby, Leicester, LE19 4PG
- Freephone 0800 988 0308
- lals.enderbybs@leics.gov.uk
Moira Adult Learning Centre
- The Moira Adult Learning Centre, Moira St, Loughborough LE11 1AX
- Freephone 0800 988 0308
- lals.loughboroughbs@leics.gov.uk
Melton Library
- Melton Library, Wilton Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 OUJ
- Freephone 0800 988 0308
- lals.meltonbs@leics.gov.uk
Roundhill Adult Learning Centre
- Roundhill Adult Learning Centre, 997 Melton Road, Thurmaston, Leicestershire, LE4 8GQ
- Freephone 0800 988 0308
- LALS.RoundhillBS@leics.gov.uk