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Learn Something New

Learning something new is incredibly important for wellbeing for several reasons:

  • Boosts Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem: Acquiring new skills or knowledge can make you feel more capable and confident in your abilities 
  • Provides a Sense of Purpose: Engaging in learning activities can give you a sense of direction and purpose, which is crucial for mental health 
  • Reduces Stress: Learning can be a great way to distract yourself from daily stressors and focus on something positive and productive 
  • Enhances Mental Health: It can improve mental health by providing a sense of achievement and helping to keep your mind active and engaged 
  • Fosters Connection with Others: Learning often involves social interaction, whether it's through classes, group activities, or online communities, helping to build and strengthen relationships 

The main message is: Learning keeps your brain active, helps you adapt to new situations, and can make life more interesting and fulfilling.

This could be something either at work or in your own time.  If you are thinking about professional personal development and training opportunities please go to the Proud to Care training directory where you will find a wide selection of training, some are costed and others are free.

There are also courses available at Adult Education In Gloucestershire from photography to cooking and mindfulness to creative wellbeing and selfcare.

Subjects include:

  • Maths
  • English
  • Digital skills
  • ESOL
  • Employability
  • First Aid
  • Family Learning
  • Education and training
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Creative Learning
  • Distance Learning
  • Apprenticeships

Other sources of learning

  • If you'd like to learn more about the nature around you, see the Glos Wildlife Trust website here
  • Have you heard about the Virtual Village Hall? It's run by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) and was set up in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

    It's an online activity hub and community designed by RVS, with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. It helps people stay physically and mentally active, connected and having fun. From crafts to Zumba, singing to meditation, there are hundreds of sessions available to view on-demand, with new content added regularly.  All the classes and content is free to access and are available 24 hours a day, so perfect for those of you doing shift work too. 

    Topics include:
    Books & Writing (including journaling, creative writing and poetry)
    Cooking and baking (including eating well, baking and sweet treats, seasonal dishes)
    Craft and making (including art, craft, seasonal crafts)
    Exercise and dance (including dance, exercise, and yoga classes)
    Gardening and outdoors (including astronomy, gardening and grow your own, wildlife)
    Health and Wellbeing (including health, meditation and mindfulness, wellbeing coaching)
    Music and singing (including music classes and singing)
    Skills and learning (including DIY and upcycling, history, and languages
    They also run special events eg LGBT+ history month, dementia action week etc.
    Click here for more information.
  • Gloucestershire Health and Care Trust offer educational self-management courses within their college courses to help you to build the skills and confidence to take control of your own health and wellbeing. Their courses are closely linked to physical and mental health are and show how you can’t have one without the other. The courses are tailored to consider different aspects of wellbeing.  See here for more information.
  • Gloucestershire College offer a wide range of courses from evening courses of 2 hours a week for a term up to pull-time courses, see here for more information.
  • The Open University have a wide range of free courses available, click here for more information.
  • Would you like to learn a new language? The basic Duolingo package is free and offers over 43 languages click here for more information.
  • Would you like to learn some British Sign Language (BSL)? There's a link to learn some signs here.
  • Have you considered learning an instrument? Gloucestershire Music offer instruments on loan for you to decide whether you want to buy one or not.  See here for more information.
  • Alison is a free online learning platform offering over 5,500 courses across a wide range of subjects. These include IT, business, health, language, engineering, and personal development. Designed for learners at all levels, Alison provides flexible, self-paced training with the option to earn certificates and diplomas. It's a global resource for anyone looking to upskill, reskill, or explore new topics—completely free of charge.  For more information click here.
  • Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing College
    Provide free and friendly, peer led educational courses and workshops, to support you to live well with your health conditions.  Through learning together, their vision is to provide educational self-management courses to help you to build the skills and confidence to take control of your own health and wellbeing. They know how closely linked physical and mental health are and how you can’t have one without the other. Their courses are tailored to consider different aspects of wellbeing.
    For more information click here. 
  • Volunteer for a local group or event, there are so many to choose from including community gardens, Parkrun, or try this local volunteer page if you need some ideas.  You could always set up an event and possibly fundraise for a charity you're passionate about.

    You could alternatively join a local group, whether it's in your work or home community to learn something new.  Maybe a craft, a sport, a book group, a walking group exploring a new area, it could be anything, and if you can't find what you're looking for, consider setting a group up yourself.

Please go to our Wellbeing A-Z main page for more topic areas.