See below for a complete list of the courses offered at Caritas St Joseph’s. Click the arrow in each box for course information, times and prices.
Use a variety of mixed mediums ranging from printing to ink marbling, drawing to collage workand more to discover your creative side. This course is for anyone who likes arts and crafts and making things.
Tuesdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Come along and play games of Bocce with other people. Bocce is an all inclusive form of Bowling, also known as Petanque or Boules, commonly played in France. It is a fun sport featured in the Paralympics. This is for everyone – all ages, all abilities and no experience necessary.
Mondays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £13
Our Book Club is different – we read books in pictures about life. We discuss a different book each week – about love, sport, health, food, and you can even create your own book. This is for anyone who wants to get together with other people with intellectual disabilities, to discuss things that matter, in a fun and safe environment.
Wednesdays, 4.15pm – 5pm
Cost: Free
Make garden furniture out of recycled wood. Experience the atmosphere of a woodwork shop and working as a team. Learn to sell and market the products at events and Farmers’ Markets whilst having an enjoyable time.
Our aim is to facilitate the employment of young adults with learning disabilities by producing high quality garden furniture using only re-cycled wood. This comes almost entirely from recycling pallets that were destined to be burnt or broken up and discarded, thus helping to preserve forests around the world.
Saturdays, 10.30am – 2.30pm
Cost: £33
Create practical items from recycled paper e.g. a footstool or a tray. This is for anyone who wants to learn a unique construction technique, using their hands with paper, flour and water. You will be doing this an individual and as part of a team.
Tuesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Learn about a different type of dance each week. Find out about the different parts – the music, the steps and the theory. This is for anyone who is interested in dance. You don’t need to be mobile to join in.
Mondays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Enhance and enrich your life by exploring your personal gifts, preferences and spirituality through use of key cards, symbols, supported choice and expressive art. Helps new students to build up their identity and creates a pathway to other St Joseph’s courses. This is for anyone who wants to explore their own experience of life and find how to express and understand their own emotions.
Fridays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Learn how to make simple and tasty dishes. Work in our dining room and kitchen, learning the skills and safe working practices necessary for cooking. For anyone who can’t cook but wants to cook, or can cook and wants to improve, this is for you – a step by step guide to cooking that you can go away and practice at home.
Tuesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Based in a specially created environment, you will explore communication using multi-sensory equipment and specialist accessories. You will experience therapeutic activities including art, music and reflexology. There will also be opportunities to enjoy the outside grounds at St Joseph’s.
This session is specifically for people whose main form of communication is through their eyes with limited body language. It is particularly suited to those diagnosed with Rett syndrome. Both the student and support workers will benefit from this activity.
Fridays, 10.30am – 2.30pm
Cost: £35
Learn practical cookery and the skills necessary for independent living. Practice making snacks, easy meals, party food, and experience some Great British Baking. There will also be non-cooking days – find recipes on a computer, plan menus and create shopping lists. Once a term the group will catch a bus to the local supermarket to purchase the ingredients required for the following week. Invite families and friends to taste what you have made.
Thursdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Simple abstract mark-making, drawing, colouring, painting, printing and observation projects, both as a group and individually. Learn to recognise your own individual style by practicing new and already learned techniques in image-making.
This course caters for a mixed ability group who want to discover, expand and improve their own creativity and style in image making.
Wednesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Look things up on the internet; work in a team; set up trips and negotiate with others. Visit the places chosen and arranged (e.g. parks, museums, Lords Cricket Ground).
For anyone interested in finding information on the internet, exploring what is happening locally, and then going on trips. Literacy or numeracy skills are not essential – but desirable.
Tuesdays, 10.30am – 4pm
Cost: £33
Improve basic language skills, reading, spelling and numeracy. For anyone who wants to enhance their literacy and numeracy skills or who needs some support to work towards a more independent life.
Wednesdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Regular exercise as well as learn about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Experiment with different forms of exercise and use new equipment. Learn about routines, warm up, stretch, pilates and relaxation. The course has no barriers – everybody is welcome, regardless of fitness or ability.
Thursdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Use the Internet and learn new ways to explore the computer world and express yourself creatively through different computer programmes and learned techniques. Get help to use the computer for information, communication and entertainment.
For anyone who wants to learn or improve computer skills, even if you have never used one before. People who want to get the most out of using the internet safely.
Mondays, 9.30am – 12.30pm and Wednesdays, 9.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £8
Develop personal and social skills, time management, communication, in the community and at the charity using IT skills. Learn new life skills and use them to improve life for everyone in our community. For anyone who wants to learn skills on Microsoft computers and those who want to become more independent. Use the internet to conduct own research. For people of all abilities.
Wednesdays,10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Gentle exercise and a range of physical movement within the body. Dance/movement to a variety of music. Work as a team in a shared and improvised dance form and learn how to support each other through active watching. For anyone who wants to be an active part of a group within a creative environment.
Wednesdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
This is a production class with a strong music element. We work on a big story through song writing, signing, sound recording, video, internet research and sometimes visual arts work (animation and collage).
This is a mixed ability class. It will suit students who like music (particularly pop music) and singing. It is also a multi-arts class which means it can appeal to students with different needs. However it is often a big class which makes it harder to do so much one-to-one work.
Thursdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Experience various types of music and build up confidence to perform for an audience. Sing along to your favourite songs accompanied by our professional pianist. For anyone who enjoys music and is happy to share their gifts with others as well as those who want to learn.
Mondays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Discover your creative abilities through making a whole range of accessories using recycled materials. Make objects for the home and for your own personal use such as bags, belts, bowls, and decorations – the options are limitless! It’s amazing what you can do using everyday materials such as newspaper, fabric scraps, egg cartons, buttons and straws.
For people of all abilities who enjoy detailed work and would welcome the opportunity to be creative and experiment in a relaxing, friendly environment.
Thursdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Active group games and sports for fitness and health. Set personal goals with support. Learn about positive lifestyle changes in a group and how to approach them. See and try fun ways to keep fit and healthy!
For anyone who wants to improve their fitness and enjoys sport and active games and group activities.
Wednesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Work in a small group on different projects that involve art, games and music. The emphasis is on building self-awareness and esteem and learning how to be part of a group. For students with complex needs or challenging behaviour, especially for those who find it difficult to settle in a larger group and relating to other people.
Tuesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £46
Make useful, unique and interesting items out of clay, learn how to decorate them using a variety of glazes. Simple sculpture is also taught. For anyone who enjoys working with their hands and would like the experience of clay work with new and interesting techniques. More experienced potters can work at their own pace on projects.
Wednesdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
A fun class where you can sing, learn to interpret and improvise familiar material from stage and screen in a fun and relaxed environment. This is a mixed ability class for anyone who likes to sing either individually or as part of a group.
Mondays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £15
Learn to make creative and fun pieces out of clay. Develop ceramics skills, and learn to co-operate on group projects. For anybody who likes being creative and wants to explore the world of ceramics while enjoying working with their hands.
Mondays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Mondays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Learn to work as a team and create a business to earn money for St Joseph’s. Make and sell our own products and help to sell other items made at the centre whilst enjoying the company of good friends and good music.
For people with an interest in going in to voluntary or paid work. Creative thinkers and those with artistic eyes with entrepreneurial skills!
Fridays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Gain practical skills need to run a productive garden; develop self confidence in nurturing plants; work in a team to develop social skills, working relations and friendship. Learn about the whole growing cycle of a particular flower or vegetable of your choice, from purchase to harvest.
For anyone who wants to work outside (in our gardens and allotment) and be part of a supported team.
Wednesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Concentrated, bespoke and short focused activities on a one-to-one basis. Explore games, experience therapy through arts and music. Use the sensory room to learn relaxation, but also as a safe place to understand the senses.
These packages are for students with complex needs or challenging behaviour who find it hard to integrate with others. It is also ideal for those who need intense assessment before enjoying the full benefits of other activities.
All Week
Cost: Get in touch to find out more
You will learn to warm up; play musical games; play percussion and have fun building up to public performance. For anyone who wants to learn basic music skills.
Fridays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Learn how to make soap out of natural ingredients. Then package and market the finished product as part of our Student Enterprise Scheme. For anyone who enjoys working with their hands and would like the experience of making soap. Also anyone who is interested in making products to sell and market themselves.
Wednesdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Learn new dance skills and explore dancing in a fun, energetic and stimulating class (group, partner and individual). Learn, create and share dance within a group. Explore different accompanying music forms. Dance with props and create new routines. For anyone who enjoys dance or wants to learn.
Mondays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Learn about hand drumming and other percussion instruments. Explore different sounds and rhythms and grow in confidence. Contribute to shared and improvised drumming. Have fun with noise, that will develop into rhythmical sounds.
For anyone regardless of musical ability. No previous drumming experience needed, just a willingness to have fun in a creative environment.
Wednesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm and Fridays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Create flower arrangements and other displays. You will work with real flowers, paper, plastic bottles, spoons and other domestic items, under the supervision of a trained florist. Grow flowers to use and to create living displays. For anyone of any ability who likes floral displays and wants to improve skills.
Thursdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
This is a totally new concept at St Joseph’s – gain business skills and make money for our charity. Come and make sandwiches and lunch to put on our enterprise trolley. Then take the trolley around our offices and those in our shared building, and sell what you have made in a safe environment.
For anyone who enjoys working in a kitchen, is interested in enterprise and has a smile big enough to encourage people to buy from the trolley.
Fridays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Learn how to create stunning props, backdrops, costumes and scenery for stage and TV shows. For anyone who has an interest in theatre; particularly who prefers to be behind the scenes as part of a creative team. All abilities welcome.
Thursdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
This is a drama class. We work on a big story through radio drama and video drama. Students will be able to contribute to the building of the script; develop characters and parts of the story through drama games, discussion and improvisation. The drama group will draw on costumes, scenery, props, sound tracks and video material made by other classes.
Students will be required to follow instructions and take appropriate actions on cue in a performance situation. Students need to be able to work in a team and be supportive of others. The ability to read is not necessary. Regular attendance is required.
Tuesdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Practise the Chinese discipline of performing movements that stimulate the flow of positive energy through the body. A healing technique encouraging relaxation and allowing blood flow to all the muscles of the body. This is a simple form of exercise that anyone can learn, especially suitable for those who find it difficult to relax.
Tuesdays, 1.45pm – 3.15pm
Cost: £13
Learn about time, money (you will pretend to go shopping) numbers, shape and measurement using IT skills. No previous numeracy skills needed. For people of all abilities. Anyone who likes using the computer and playing games. Use touch screen computers.
Thursdays, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £20
Learn to sing chants, songs and improvised music. Learn to play hand drums and other percussion instruments. Have fun improvising and listening to music from every part of the world. For anyone who enjoys music.
Tuesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: £20
Practice the art of yoga to the level of your capabilities. For anyone regardless of age or fitness level can enjoy and benefit.
Mondays, 10.45am – 12.15pm
Cost: £20