Daily Express Monday, April 6, 2020 33expressyourself
Edited by
MERNIE GILMORE
Get in touch!
[email protected]From first aid to cake
decorating, put your
time under lockdown
to good use with
DEBBI MARCO’s
guide to the best
online courses
L
EARNING something new or
taking part in a class can help
boost your mood and improve
confidence. And now many
course providers are responding
to the current situation by
putting their classes and coaching online.
There’s something for everyone in the
selection below.SAVE A LIFE
At a time when the NHS is stretched to the
limit, there’s no better time to learn some
basic first aid. Daisy First Aid online classes
are packed with practical videos, audio and
visual aids designed specifically for parents
and carers to give them the knowledge to
help a baby or child who is injured or ill.
The company is also offering live online
sessions for parents and children at home
via Zoom video link.
Cost: From £20
More info: daisyfirstaid.comDESIGN A NECKLACE
Learn how to make a silver necklace
in a virtual workshop run by
Dainty London. The classes
typically involve 10
to 15 people and last
approximately
two hours.
Hosted on a
Friday evening
or Saturday
afternoon, they
are a great way
to fill a weekend.
When you book
on to a workshop,
you will be sent
all the tools and
equipment you need,
and everything will be
sterilised prior to posting.
You will also receive a
booking link to log into a Zoom
call for the live workshop. During
the class you’ll be able to talk to top
jewellery designer Jade Sammour
and ask questions throughout.
Cost: £68, with 10 per cent
donated to the Nurses Trust
More info: daintylondon.comLEARN A LANGUAGE
If you fancy exercising your brain and
learning to speak a second language there
are plenty of online tutorials.
Duolingo is one free service that offers
a choice of more than 30 languages. Lessons
are given in a fun format designed to retain
learning. You can set daily learning goals
as well as access stories and podcasts to
improve listening and comprehension.
Cost: Free
More info: duolingo.comCALLIGRAPHY CLASS
A calming and relaxing hobby, calligraphy
is the ideal skill to perfect while you’re
spending time at home. Access an online
workshop in an easy-to-follow 30-minute
video format, which also has downloadable
worksheets.
You will learn lots of tips and tricks andinspirational artworks to trace over and
copy to keep you motivated. If you don’t
have any calligraphy pens, there will be
advice on what you can use instead.
Cost: £3.99 for a 30-minute lesson
More info: themoderncalligraphyco.comGET CRAFTY
Crafting is a great way to relax when you’re
feeling stressed. And now you can learn to
craft anything from needle-felting, weaving
and paper flower making to lino printing,
macrame and drawing projects with online
course providers Bergin and Bath.
The projects are all aimed at beginners.
Simply order a kit and watch the tutorials
on the website. There are also step-by-stepinstructions that come in printed form. Most
of the sessions require materials that people
can easily buy online but Bergin and Bath
are also selling the materials through their
online shop if anyone is stuck.
Cost: From £10
More info: berginandbath.co.ukBOOST CONFIDENCE
When all around you feels uncertain,
now is a great time to look inwards for
confidence and resilience. Melissa Howard,
a former NHS worker, is now a fully trained
mindset coach and has opened up her
courses online.
Throughout the six-week course you will
learn how life experiences determine how
you think and see the world. You will learn
how to deal with uncertainty and stop it
ruling your actions, and how to implement
new habits while in self-isolation.
Plus you will understand how to
transform negative emotions and
self-sabotaging behaviour patterns into
positive thoughts and actions. As well as
the online modules, there is a weekly live
Zoom call for students to access direct
support and coaching.
Access to the course content is for life;
access to live Zoom coaching calls is for
three months.
Cost: £99
More info: e-volveglobal.comCAKE DECORATING
It is hard to celebrate special occasions
when you are confined to the house, but a
show-stopping cake will always do the trick.
However, it’s not as easy as it looks, so
expert tuition will be useful as well as fun.
Sign up to Rock Bakehouse online classes
for access to downloadable baking
masterclasses, along with piping,
buttercream skills and cupcake decorating.
You’ll also get access to a Facebook group
for extra support.
Cost: From £16.50
More info: rockbakehouse.co.ukPERFECT YOUR PILATES
It’s essential to keep your physical and
mental health on track, and strengthening
your body safely is an ideal skill to learn.
Pilates and yoga teacher Liron Kass has
created an online Pilates programme for
women and is offering free taster classes
and a prerecorded daily Pilates workout
to be completed at your convenience.
Liron will cover topics such as
strengthening and sculpting core muscles,
achieving the perfect posture, avoiding and
treating back pain and keeping up
motivation to exercise.
There is also a paid-for 12-week course
for anyone interested in learning more.
Cost: Free
More info: bodyrestart.netLog
on to
learn
CLASS ACT:
Now is the
pefect time
to go online
and learn
a new skillPicture: GETTY