Our world is always changing and growing, with new technology affecting how we interact with each other to external sources like climate change encouraging us to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Making a difference in this ever-changing world can seem daunting, but there are lots of small changes we can make to our lives that can immensely improve our wellbeing as well as the outlook of our planet.
We’re going to take a look at how adult learning can hold the key to improving our lives as well as the lives of others. Whether you’re looking to improve your mental health or create a more sustainable planet, adult learning offers you the tools to get there.
There are lots of different courses that you can take to advance your own learning as an adult. These courses empower learners to grow their knowledge and skills in a meaningful way. Let’s look at how we can apply these courses to our goals of self-improvement.
Get crafting with an upholstery course
Upcycling is a trend that has exploded in recent years, and with good reason. This fun and creative hobby has quickly blossomed into its own industry where people are making the most out of tired, old furniture.
Upholstery classes are a perfect way to get involved with upcycling, as it teaches you how to professionally repair, sew, stitch and perform a host of other upholstery skills. This is a perfect skill set to revive an old antique chair or couch.
Our student Michelle has found great success and value from her experiences learning upholstery at ACL Essex. The upholstery course successfully brought out a creative side to Michelle that she didn’t even know existed.
She said:
“I work full time, have little artistic or crafting talent although I can knit and sew a little. I really love nice furniture and the idea of having a unique piece ‘made’ by me seemed very appealing.”
Being able to flex her creative side during her upholstery course empowered Michelle to get crafty and create her own work. Michelle added:
“When my husband took me to visit a small antique shop and bought me a battered chair frame, I was delighted.”
With that one purchase, Michelle was enamoured with the idea of creating something that was truly unique. With her experience in upholstery thanks to her adult learning, Michelle was able to tap into her creative side and make a beautiful chair out of a worse-for-wear frame.
Find out about how we’re moving towards a sustainable curriculum