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
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!
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.
CURRENT WORKSHOPS & COURSES
Telling Tales - Women's Circle
Saturday 14th June, 1pm - 4pm
We’re excited to offer another Women’s Circle with the wonderful Victoria Robinson - a qualified coach and mentor, who has been supporting women throughout menopause for over a decade. Having found the power of circle in her own life, Victoria has begun holding circles to bring more women together to reconnect with themselves and others.
Telling Tales is a women's circle to create a moment of balance and renewal in an increasingly busy world of frantic activity. Throughout history, people have gathered in circles to tell stories, solve problems and, most of all, listen to others. So, why not take a few hours to stop, speak from the heart and create deep connections with those who sit with you?
For June, we’re celebrating the height of summer and the lushness that it brings, while reflecting on our growth through 2025 and setting intentions for the second half of the year.
As before, this session is based on the ways of council that have grown out of The Ojai Foundation lineage - an ancient way and modern practice whose roots are within the natural world, spanning diverse cultures and religions. It elicits an experience of true community, recognising that each voice needs to be heard, that every person has a gift, a story to share; a piece of the whole. Offering a way of communicating that encourages attentive listening, as well as honest and compassionate expression, it makes room for new insights and understandings; wisdom in decision making, and healing. You can read more about it HERE.
If this circle feels like something you’re drawn to, please click below to contact Victoria and book a space.
Cost is a minimum donation of £10. If you feel you’re able to donate more, you will be supporting 2 subsidised places for people who can’t afford it. If you feel you could benefit from a subsidised place, please contact Victoria also by clicking below.
Solar Energy Course
Saturday 19th July, 9am - 4pm
Following on from the success of our first Solar Energy course, we’re excited to offer this 1-day session again for anyone who wants to add solar panels to a cabin, barn, outbuilding, vehicle or other non-domestic structure!
Hosted by the wonderful Terry Kerans, from Yellow Energy Ltd (a renewable energy project consultancy) this course has been designed for people who have little or no knowledge of solar PV (Photovoltaic) and want to know more to help with their own solar projects.
With a mix of theory and practical application, you will learn the following:
- How solar works
- How to calculate the amount of solar you will produce, given limited space for solar panels
- Basic components of a small solar PV array and how to choose the right ones for your needs
- Monitoring systems
- Battery systems
There's an opportunity to look at how Rockaway Park’s 3 phase solar PV system operates, as well as work with Terry to design an off-grid system. You’ll also be given the chance to design a small solar installation.
Here's some feedback from the first course to give you an idea of what to expect:
"Very chilled relaxed pace and very useful – would highly recommend."
"I learned a lot, especially for my own solar project – amazing, thanks!"
"Clear communication and good pace – thanks so much!"
"Very relevant to my requirements and the practical was great."
"Terry explained things well that weren’t easy to understand and gave real-life examples that helped."
"Terry's experience meant he could impart practical knowledge on the subject that was really useful to know."
Cost for this course is £60 and includes a delicious home-made vegan lunch. Places are limited, and will sell out quickly, so if you’d like to take part, please click on the image below to book.
ONLINE WORKSHOPS & COURSES
Creative Writing Workshop
Finding Inspiration
This new online creative writing workshop has been created by Michelle Diwell to help budding writers. Michelle has a Masters in Professional Writing, and has been devising and delivering creative writing workshops in person for years.
If you’ve always wanted to write, but didn’t know where to begin, or you’ve written before but you’re looking for some fresh ideas, then this workshop will show you a few ways to get the creative juices flowing and find the stories within...
Consisting of a series of videos, or steps, to work through at your own pace, Michelle will guide you through the following:
A Warm-Up Writing Game
Creative Writing Exercise 1 - Looking For A Story
Creative Writing Exercise 2 - Using Your Memory
Creative Writing Exercise 3 - Listening For A Story
Creative Writing Exercise 4 - Visual Stimulation
Creative Writing Exercise 5 - Tapping Into Your Imagination
Creative Writing Exercise 6 - Through The Door
Short Story Tips
Here's some feedback from writers who've already tested the workshop.
"Presented with clarity and enthusiasm, this workshop inspires the hesitant/wannabe writer into creative action, with a series of innovative and provocative exercises that get the imagination flowing over the stepping stones to being a writer. The tone is one of gently leading you into the nature and structure of creative writing: it's informative, positive, well structured - and it works! I just wrote things I had no idea were in my head! Highly recommended!"
(Richard, Bath)
"Excellent workshop! Good pace and the sensory aspects were great. The writing short story tips were really helpful too and contained a wealth of information so that I feel I can get going on actually writing a story. Fab!"
(Amanda, Bournemouth)
"Loved the exercises! Well-presented and engaging – Michelle has a really beautiful voice that makes listening and learning very pleasant, calming, and actually quite therapeutic."
(Ben, Bristol)
Cost for this workshop is £50. So, if you'd like to dive in and take part, you can buy a copy of the workshop by clicking below.
Beginners Yoga
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 2025
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.
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!
ROCKAWAY PARK
"Would those who say it can't be done, please stand clear of those doing it"