Learning a New Skill
Learning a new skill can be really rewarding. In line with our theme for spring, ‘Keep Learning’, we want to inspire you to give something new a go. Remember, even doing something simple counts – it’s all about the sense of accomplishment you feel afterwards.
Learning new skills is also great to do with other people. Maybe someone in your family can teach you a new recipe, or a friend has a musical instrument or sports equipment you’ve never tried. Ask them! You could even swap skills, and both of you can learn something new together.
To get you started, here are six skills other people in our community have been picking up recently. Why not try one for yourself?
Join a writing group
Writing is a brilliant way to express your thoughts creatively. Whether it’s journaling, poetry, stories, or even letters, you just need a pen and paper, or a phone or computer. Try starting with a few sentences a day about how you’re feeling or something you noticed.
Support Worker Delvin, from our Social Inclusion Team in Blackburn, runs a welcoming weekly writing group with people we support. Why not see if there’s a group in your local area, or even start your own?
Create a collage
Collage is a relaxing activity that you can do alone or with friends and family. Martin in West Berkshire had a wonderful trip to Disneyland Paris and loved seeing all the memorabilia from the Avengers comics. When he got back, he a made picture collage of his trip, to remind him of all the good memories.
If you’d like to try it, start by choosing a theme like nature, holidays, pets, or your favourite colour. Find some paper, scissors, glue, and materials like magazines, newspapers, leaflets, old photos, books, fabric scraps, or packaging, then cut out pictures or words that match your theme and arrange them how you like.
Grow your garden
Gardening can boost your mood and help you feel connected with nature. Whether you’ve got a garden, balcony, or even just a windowsill, planting something new like herbs, flowers, or a little tomato plant and watching it grow can feel really rewarding.
Anthony and Sarah in Greater Manchester took a trip to the garden centre, where they picked out some colourful new plants and flowers to brighten up their outdoor space. Once home, they got to digging, planting, and arranging everything with care.
Make your nails fabulous
Why not plan your own DIY beauty session this week? Invite a friend, pick out your favourite colours, and make your nails look fabulous! You don’t need a salon, just a few nail polish colours, a steady hand, and a bit of imagination.
Ruby in Grimsby recently treated herself to a pamper session. She chose some beautiful pastel colours to decorate her nails, but you can also try simple designs like dots, stripes, or colour-blocking. If you’re feeling adventurous, there are lots of online tutorials for inspiration.
Try out a sport
Sports are great not only for physical health but also for building social connections and teamwork. There are many ways to get involved in sports, whether you have a disability or not. National Disability Sports Organisations (NDSOs) offer a wide range of opportunities for people with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs.
Alex, Thomas, and Gen from Staffordshire recently enjoyed a lively darts night and have been practicing regularly on their new dartboard at home. They recently took part in a fun darts night where they were crowned the champions!
Practice a mindful activity
Engaging in a mindful activity helps you become fully present in the moment. It takes effort to slow down and tune into the body which is why it’s a rewarding skill. Mindful activities include meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, colouring, and being in nature.
CW and his staff recently enjoyed a springtime walk together. During a break, CW took the time to make a lovely daisy chain. Making a daisy chain is a great example of a mindful activity.
Fancy trying any of these skills or coming up with one of your own? Email communications@creativesupport.co.uk with your updates, and we’ll share your learning journey on Creative Support’s social media!