Our main aim is to provide or assist in providing local facilities and resources designed to support lifelong learning and skills development.
We run a range of exciting and educational courses, events and workshops on a huge variety of subjects throughout Sutherland. Below we have listed some examples of the varied events we have run in the past and you can browse though all our forthcoming events at our Events section.
Arts & Crafts
Patchwork
Patchwork and quilting sessions cater for all abilities, from novice to experienced, and will include using a variety of techniques, colours and patterns to make beautiful keepsakes such as artwork, quilts, cushion covers, etc.
Sewing
Provide with the essential sewing skills, from learning the basic functions of the Sewing machine to creating home furnishings, crafts and clothes.
Art
From charcoal drawing to folk art painting, we offer a range of sessions that can cater for budding artists of all capabilities. Sessions include using traditional mediums such as paper, canvas and material, through to glass, wood and upcycling furniture.
Knitting, crochet, rag-rugging, plarn and tarn
Start with the basics and progress into making soft toys, bags, blankets, rugs and more.
Upholstery
Learn how to transform an old piece of furniture into something you will be proud to use again. Classes and one-day workshops are sufficient to complete a simple project, such as a footstool.
Papercrafts
Suitable for all ages and abilities, covering simple to advanced skills, you will make seasonal, birthday and anniversary cards in a wide range of styles, and innovative gift boxes to hold a range of presents.
Making household furnishings
We offer a wide range of household furnishings, which alter seasonally, so please check the latest prospectus. Recent examples include making lampshades, draught excluders, shoe holders, oak stave clocks, door stops, decorative wreaths, mosaic mirrors and keepsakes, mug holders, decorative plant holders and wooden keepsakes.
Woodworking
These sessions cover hands-on practical sessions, suitable for ages 16+, which cover basic to intermediate skills. Classes change seasonally and include garden planters, bird boxes and tables, bug hotels, tables, clocks, pirate chests, coat-hooks and decorative pieces.
Flower arranging
Sessions include seasonal arrangements, corsages, bouquets such as hand-tied, table centres and floral art arrangements.
Upcycling
Featuring an innovative range of upcycling sessions using a wide range of materials including glass (e.g. decoupage candle holders), textiles (e.g. handbags), furniture (e.g. shabby chic), wood (e.g. shoe store), paper (e.g. book planter), plastics (e.g. decorative boxes), ceramics (e.g. mosaics) and much more.
Special Projects
Women’s employability
Covering a wide range of employability skills such as team-building, raising self confidence, CV writing, managing a family and career, IT skills and much more.
Reading Between the Lines
World War 1 project which encompassed drama photography, film making, scriptwritng, poetry writing which culminated in a photographic exhibition and completed short film and a staged drama.
HALP (Patterns)
Creation of a community calendar where students took photos and poems and used IT to create a calendar featuring patterns and textures around Lairg.
Sutherland Secrets
A project run in conjunction with Brora Learning Centre and included the heritage and history of Sutherland and the research was published in a small book.
Lives of Highland women
This Project explored how women’s life in Sutherland had changed over the last 100 years and a short film was produced.
Clay workshop – Garden feature
A community project which was taught by a well-known clay sculptor, producing a solar-powered unique artwork fountain in the Learning Centre’s garden.
Outdoor Hobbies
Fruit and Vegetable growing
Grow-you-own food and cut down on pesticides, air miles and cost! Sessions include growing in polytunnels and outdoors, growing specialist crops and food, such as herbs or fruit, pruning fruit trees, rotation planting, no dig, and much more.
Foraging
Walk through the forests and learn how to distinguish food from foe! Seasonal foraging includes fungi season (chanterelles) and summer foraging for blaeberries and other edibles. Not only is it saving you from buying store-bought foods, no pesticides will harm you here. Enjoy the sounds of nature as you go.
Garden habitats
Learn how to make your garden healthier by attracting in the right sorts of wildlife and helping them to thrive, in addition to learning about garden maintenance, planning and planting, etc
Composting
Make your own compost and learn the tricks so that it’s a good quality mix which is beneficial to your garden whilst saving you money.
Photography
Learn how to use your camera properly and learn about picture composition and what makes an attractive photo. In recent years, we have put on a film school through the lens of Robert Aitken, the producer of local film, The Dreaming Bog.
Literature
Book club
Designed for beginners and ESOL learners in a relaxed informal environment.
Creative writing & Poetry
Learn the basics and to be inspired on how to write your own novel.
Scottish literature
Read about Scottish literature such as Gothic and North Atlantic Rim.
Languages
Gaelic
Covering all levels from beginners to advanced.
*We are currently unable to offer any EU language classes, due to lack of funding*
Spanish
Covering all levels from beginners to advanced.
French
Covering all levels from beginners to advanced.
German
Covering all levels from beginners to advanced.
Italian
Covering all levels from beginners to advanced.
English as a second language
Covering all levels from beginners to advanced.
Heritage
Gaelic legacy
Learning the historical background of the Celtic people And the main linguistic differences between them.
Norse legacy
Learn the literature and language of old Norse and Iceland.
Archaeology
Study local history across the North West Highlands and go on a local field trip to visit a cemetery, brochs and local stones.
Family History
Sessions run are tailored to beginners or intermediate level students, and you will guided in how to research your own family tree and find out about your family history, uncovering heritage as you explore the past.
IT
IT for beginners
Basic functions on how to work your way around the computer and internet use.
IT Clinic
Book in with Ryan to learn how to use a new device, or solve a problem you may be having with your tech.
IT skills: Word
From creating you very first Word document to some of the more complex and advanced techniques.
IT skills: Excel
Covering all levels from creating formulas and spreadsheets to advanced functions such as pivot tables and data management.
IT skills: Business basics
Learning how to use the internet to sell your business and managing your bookkeeping skills.
Internet buying and selling
Sell your unwanted items online via ebay and buy/swap/sell sites. You will learn how to market products, photography and upload information, so that you can maximise sales.
Young People
Children workshops
Fun and exciting workshops for kids which have previously included upcycling classes – rock painting, CD art, salt-dough ornaments and hallowe’en creepy crawlies.
Soon we will be reinvigorating our Mini Makers sessions, to be once a month at the Learning Centre after school – watch the event page for class updates!
Cookery
Cooking from fresh ingredients
We offer a wide range of classes from experienced cooks. This includes homemade replacements for takeaway food, such as Chinese recipes, catering for popular food intolerances, such as gluten-free meals, and using local food to produce tasty seasonal dishes.
Preserves and chutneys
Transform food gluts into tasty jams and chutneys, from traditional to modern recipes.
Family cooking
Family sessions for adults and children to take part in together. Come and learn how to make things as a family, and also encourage good cooking skills in your children.
