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ROCKAWAY PARK'S WORKSHOPS & COURSES

Here at Rockaway Park, we’re committed to engaging with the local community and beyond.

With a wealth of talented craftspeople, artists, makers, musicians and performers - all keen to share their skills and experience in a supportive and inspirational environment - our series of workshops and courses are open to everyone and kept as low in price as we can make them.

For a taster of past workshops, see the short video below.

If you'd like to get in touch to express an interest in past workshops being run again, or you'd like to collaborate with us, or you'd like more details about our workshop and course experiences, please visit our Workshop Archive page by clicking below

Alternatively, if you'd like to support Rockaway to enable us to provide more low-cost and free workshops and courses, you can become a Patreon. With a small monthly donation, you can help us continue our valuable work supporting the community and providing valuable skills-based sessions to those who need them. For all the info on how you can become a Rockaway Patreon, please click on the image below.


Rockaway Park's circular Patreon symbol with a colourful picture in the centre featuring the Rockaway yard, plus the words 'Help Rockaway Thrive. Become a Patreon'

You will also be helping spread the crucial message that actively supporting each other in these testing times is a way to initiate positive change.

Thank you!

CURRENT WORKSHOPS & COURSES

Saturday 30th November, 12pm - 4pm

Black, white and red flyer advertising the Calling Punk Women Free Creative Workshop

A workshop for punk women exploring age, gender and identity!

This workshop is for any woman who identifies as/with punk 18+ years old.


Led by Dr Laura Way, from Roehampton University, we'll explore identity as punk women in a creative space to gather authentic insights about ageing and gender, rather than relying on what we’re often told. This might challenge some ‘normative’ thinking about what it means to age as a woman, which tends to be quite negative. 

Ultimately, the aim of the workshop is to make a 'creative installation(s)’ about what is discovered, which might sound a bit daunting, but please don't worry! No artistic/creative/practical ability or skills required (promise) and hopefully you'll have fun in the process. 

The creative installation(s) with its accompanying story will then be on display at Rockaway.

This workshop is free to attend but places are limited. So, for more details, and to register for your place, please book below!

Forest Therapy Taster Workshop
Sunday 8th & Sunday 15th December, 2.30pm - 4pm 
Unwind, De-Stress, Connect With Nature!

Join wonderful Forest Therapy Practitioner, Tris, for a rejuvenating experience in nature at Rockaway Park's Community Forest Garden.

 

 Forest therapy, also known as forest bathing or shinrin-yoku in Japan, involves immersing oneself in a forest environment to promote mental and physical well-being through gentle, mindful activities called "invitations".

 

This event is a wonderful opportunity to unwind, destress, and connect with nature, as well as warm yourself around a lovely fire pit.  

This taster workshop is available on both Sunday 8th and Sunday 15th December. Cost is £10 per session and places are limited. So, if you'd like to take part, please click on the date you prefer below.

Winter Pruning Gardening Workshop
Sunday 2nd February, 10am - 4pm

We're excited to offer this 1-day gardening workshop with Rockaway's wonderful Head Gardener, Penny Austin. Penny has a degree in Social Psychology, a level 5 DET teaching qualification, and is a fully qualified and experienced horticulturalist.

For over 25 years she’s worked as a head gardener, designer, consultant and lecturer within the industry. Her work has taken her all over the country and abroad, including France and Sicily. Penny also currently lectures for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) delivering professional qualification courses to budding horticulturalists.

 

Designed for adults of all ages and abilities, this 1-day workshop is a mix of theory, observation and practical activities. 

Based in the Rockaway classroom, Penny will offer practical advice and guidance on the general principles and practice of pruning, including how to prune mindfully and productively, as well as how to approach managing unpruned or overgrown trees.

 

There will also be an opportunity to practice on some of the fruit trees and shrubs in the Rockaway Community Forest Garden, including formative pruning practices to create shape and pruning maintenance to promote health and productivity.

Cost for this workshop is £45 for unwaged/benefits or £65 for employed, which also includes a delicious home-made vegan Sunday roast.

Places are limited, so if you'd like to take part, please click on the image below to book.

(NB: If you'd like to learn about gardening and get involved to help us grow, you can become a Rockaway Garden Volunteer. All active volunteers have the chance to take part in Penny's garden workshops or courses for free! For more info and to volunteer, please visit the Community Forest Garden page below.)

ONLINE COURSES

Beginners Yoga

Montage of colour photographs featuring Maddie in different yoga positions in a calming space

Do you want to get into yoga but don't know where to start? Then Maddie's course is for you! Designed to help beginners find confidence with breath work and yoga poses, Maddie invites you to dip into some amazing meditation practices.

This six-part course will allow you to explore lots of areas of yoga, encouraging you to get into a regular practice that works for you. With easy to follow videos and a supporting worksheet with additional information, the course covers the following:

Session 1: Breath & Basics

An introduction to the 3 key elements of yoga - Breath, Movement, Chill.

Session 2: Poses & Peacefinding

An exploration of classic poses that can be sewn together to eventually create a flow.
 

Session 3: Serene Stillness

Finding stillness in body and mind.


Session 4: Mindful Movement

An introduction to flow and the sun salutation.

Session 5: Flowing Freely 

Going with the flow and listening to what your body is asking for.


Session 6: Yoga For When You're Tired

Slowing down and gentle stretches.

Cost for all six sessions is £50.

To sign up and get started on your yoga practice, just click below:

Our Workshop & Course Programme in 2024

Montage of colour photographs featuring images from different workshops - screen printing, guitar for beginners, bangle making, silver ring making, Rockaway Kids graffiti and badge making and welding for women.

We've been lucky enough to work with some fantastic practitioners delivering workshops and delighted by the response to everything we've offered with some amazing feedback from participants. Thanks to each and every one of you for taking part.

 In 2024, we'd like to continue offering creative practitioners space for hire to deliver their workshops and courses at Rockaway in the classroom, terrace, chapel, main shed, or yard, with electricity and heating provided, if needed. PLUS, we'll promote your workshop or course through our newsletter, website and social media platforms, which means it will reach a following of over 32,000 people.

 

It will be like any other venue hire to deliver a workshop or course, except our Michelle will happily work with you on promotional materials, such as images, info and videos (if you have them) to help with recruitment. 

If you're interested in running a workshop or course at Rockaway with this approach, then please get in touch below for a chat. We look forward to hearing from you!

Accommodation Options

Picture of the Rockaway atrium with an apartment window and bougainvillea
A bedroom in one of the Rockaway Air BnB apartments

If you're travelling from afar for a workshop or visit, don't forget there are on-site accommodation options at Rockaway. To find out more and check availability, head to our Accommodation page!

ROCKAWAY PARK

"Would those who say it can't be done, please stand clear of those doing it"

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