City of Chelmsford Mencap's lifelong learning service, The Outreach Academy, runs a variety of 6 to 16 week long courses which help develop social, work and life skills and maximise wellbeing and independence. All courses are fully supported and inclusive.
Latest Courses
Our lifelong learning service is running online during the coronavirus pandemic. Some courses and times are subject to change. New students are welcome to enrol at any time, subject to the availability of places.
To receive the full timetable and find out more, please
Cooking
Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm
Wednesdays, AM and PM
Learn how to make food exciting, experiment with new flavours and develop key cooking skills with the help of award-winning tutors. Students make delicious dishes at every session and build their own recipe book.
Music
Wednesdays
AM and PM
Our music sessions included practise for our choir, Awesome Beats Collective, who perform regularly at a number of venues in Chelmsford and also participate in our Celebration of Caring and Carol concerts. The course also teaches students about the different parts of the orchestra, with special guest tutors. They also have opportunities to attend a number of concerts. Come along and enjoy a range of musical genres, from classical to jazz and pop!
Active in the community and environment (ACE)
Thursdays, 9am-4pm
Active in the community and environment students participate in a range of projects, including arranging monthly Community Lunches at Mencap Centre and maintaining several community gardens and their own allotment.
Social enterprise
Tuesdays
10.30am-12.30pm
Our Social enterprise, Independent Designs, designs and produces a range of beautiful gift and household items. Students have opportunities to learn a variety of craft skills, from woodwork to ceramic painting. Students also develop key employment and business skills as they market and sell their products.
Seated Dance
Tuesdays
1.15-3.15pm
Part of our Discover Health programme, this session features two hours of gentle seated exercise, and is suitable for complete beginners and those seeking to regain fitness. Come along and enjoy a range of music and dance styles and the opportunity to meet new friends. Suitable for all ages and abilities.
Discover Seated Dance is tutored by experienced dance instructor Hannah Randall.
Functional skills
Mondays
10.30am-3.15pm
This Spring's Functional skills courses focus on communication skills, and science in everyday life.
Students will develop their communication skills through games, quizzes and group discussion and explore topics including active listening, fake news and advertising. Everyday science will be discovered using common objects found at home, from apples to water jugs!
This course is run by qualified teachers Pam Groveham and Alison Barnwell.
Express yourself!
Fridays
1.15-4pm
Our Express yourself! course is run by experienced tutors Dawn Clark and Karen Raybould. The course includes workshops in lots of different expressive and creative arts including singing, percussion, role play, movement and problem-solving challenges.
Each term students focus on a different theme - this Spring we're first exploring castles and heraldry, and later the science of art.
Working out
Various days and times
CURRENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC