Led by Creative Eye

Norden Farm's Crafternoons are relaxed crafting sessions for older people.

Get crafty with a range of activities, or bring along your own projects to work on with support from tutor Kayleigh Robinson.

You can learn new skills, meet new people and try something new, a cup of tea is included with the ticket price. Come either Tuesday or Wednesday and join in that week's craft. If you are unable to attend in person you can log on from home to chat and join in the session.

Autumn Season
Tues 17 Dec Wire Christmas Tree

Social Arts Crafternoons is a partially funded project run by Norden Farm with support from The Berkshire Community Foundation.

Local transport can be provided as part of the ticket price for those attending on a Wednesday.

If you need transport to Norden Farm for the Wednesday sessions please contact Jess Thompson at jess.thompson@nordenfarm.org / 01628 682563 to talk through your requirements.

Suitable for ages 60+ years.

2pm - 3pm
£5 per session, including a cup of tea

•  17 Dec from £5

Led by Nanda Sharma

Welcome to Bollybhangra Dance Fitness Party sessions! Nanda teaches her original choreographies to top hits from Bollywood, Bhangra, Belly dance and also other international music and dance rhythms.

The joyful music and movements encourage us to open our hearts and minds to possibilities, improve wellbeing and body-confidence and encourage us to embrace our individuality.

Enjoy the benefits of dance on flexibility and balance, health and fitness, and mood, memory, in a fun and friendly environment, at your own pace- no pressure. Beginners welcome.

Every class feels like a party and your place awaits! Dress up or dress down, some colour, sequins and a jingly bellydance scarf will add to your experience!

Bring water, a towel, wear dance sneakers or trainers.

Spring
Tues 14 Jan - Tues 29 Apr
3pm - 4pm

£10 per session I £24 per 3 week course

•  17 Dec from £7
•  14 Jan from £10
• 11 more dates...

Led by Seann Wilkinson

A non-audition community choir open to all. Working on everything from Madonna to Les Mis, from gospel to pop - this is an opportunity to meet people, learn some harmonies and sing your hearts out. No experience required. Enthusiasm absolutely necessary!

Spring
Tues 14 Jan - Tues 1 Apr (exc 18 Feb)
7.30pm – 9pm

£11 per session | £110 per 11 week term

•  17 Dec from £11
•  14 Jan from £11
• 10 more dates...

Led by Jim Maving

Always wanted to learn guitar but never got around to it? Want to trade your air guitar skills for real guitar skills? It is never too late to learn. Learn guitar right from the very beginning. This is a foundation course for those with little to no experience of playing guitar. You will learn how to hold a guitar and to make the right noises out of it. The aim of these lessons is to get you playing your first song within 4 weeks of lessons, as no-one takes up guitar to strum random chords, it’s all about the songs.

If you are returning to guitar having not played for some time and can barely remember chords this is a great way of getting back into the swing of things.

If you've never played guitar you need to book on the Absolute Beginners course!

These classes are split by skills level;

Beginners A - Recently completed the Absolute Beginners course but still some way to go. Yet to tackle bar chords and complicated rhythms.

Beginners B - Well on the way and able to do bar chords

Beginners C - Almost Intermediate but not quite yet.

Autumn
Tues 10 Sept – 8 Oct (5 weeks)
Tues 15 Oct – 19 Nov, exc 22 Oct (5 weeks)
Tues 3 Dec – 17 Dec (3 weeks)

7.45pm - 8.45pm

£50 per 5 week course | £30 per 3 week course

Suitable for 18+ years.

•  17 Dec

Led by Julie Potter

This class is particularly suited to beginners, those returning to yoga having had a break, those with specific injuries or conditions or even those that consider themselves to be of a ‘certain age’ that might need a less challenging approach. We will cover general breathing practises, the basic and gentler postures, together with general information and possible discussion around movement and the potential difficulties we might come up against.

The aim will be to relax and enjoy.

The yoga I teach is an evolution of nearly 30 years of practice and study, with a broad experience of many styles and teachers. In recent years I have been moving away from ‘external’ evaluation of the postures and moving towards an ‘internal’ sense of the postures, moving away from the more used traditional approach of systemised yoga to a more experiential and ‘felt’ approach, influenced by teachers who have been inspired by the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli.

Please bring a blanket, a yoga / Pilates mat, and wear loose comfortable clothing

Spring
Wed 15 Jan - 12 Feb (5 weeks)
Wed 19 Feb - 19 Mar (5 weeks)
Wed 26 Mar - 30 Apr (5 weeks)

11am - 12.15pm
£12 per session | £50 per 5 week course

This class will take place both in person and online via Zoom.

You will find the link to access the session in your booking confirmation email

•  18 Dec from £12
•  15 Jan from £12
• 14 more dates...

Led by Emma Duncan

In each session children take part in a series of drama games and activities that develop their confidence as well as teaching them drama skills. These include focus, communication, developing a character and voice projection.

As the weeks go on the group will each have a part with some lines to learn in a small-scale show. They will rehearse as a team and share what they have learnt during the last session, more details to follow on this after half term.

Suitable for school years 2 - 6.

'Norden Farm is my favourite after school club, it always keeps me moving and relaxed. It is a great place to go for drama and within a short time, I have become far more confident and expressive' Timothy, age 7

'We have sent both of our children to Youth Theatre at Norden Farm and have seen dramatic improvements in there ability, confidence, social awareness and expressiveness generally and specifically. The environment is safe and developmental in a broad and exciting sense' Alex - parent

Autumn - Improvisation Term
Wed 11 Sept - 18 Dec, exc 30 Oct (14 weeks)
5pm - 6pm
£145

Junior Youth Theatre Booking Form

'The youth theatre is a nice place and I’ve only been here a short time and I Love it!' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'It is cool and welcoming' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'The youth theatre is one of the most professional classes I’ve enrolled in' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'The youth theatre is one of the best drama clubs, everyone is so friendly and we do amazing games' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'We have absolutely loved the drama classes, we have seen a tremendous improvement with our daughter's confidence, she enjoys the sessions as there is a mixture of techniques and games and has made friends along the way! Emma is great at adapting the lessons and I have only seen improvements, we Look forward to the end of summer show combined with the senior class!!! Love Norden Farm as the venue!' Junior Youth Theatre Parent

'This is my daughter’s first experience of a drama club - and it has been such a positive, confidence-boosting, creative experience for her. I particularly love that there is no pressure on the children - there is plenty of time and practice to get ready for the end of season Sharing Session, and the level of performance is just enough to stretch them, without making them worry. It’s pure joy and excitement! You can see how far the group has progressed from term to term - they are becoming a very confident and capable group of Thespians!' Junior Youth Theatre Parent

•  18 Dec

Led by Emma Duncan

Each term we will be focusing on developing the participants confidence and well-being through a series of drama games and activities.

This term the Senior Youth Theatre group are focusing on developing drama skills. They’ll learn a deeper understanding of performance and managing their nerves as well as some more specialised techniques including comedy and physical theatre.

Suitable for school years 7 - 12.

'Drama has upped my confidence remarkably and I’m getting better every time, it’s my favourite club and I look forward to it each week' Youth Theatre Seniors Student

'The youth theatre is one of the best dramas clubs ever, we can express ourselves' Youth Theatre Seniors Student

'The instructor is very supportive and everyone is very respectful' Youth Theatre Seniors Student

'Norden Farm is my favourite after school club, it always keeps me moving and relaxed. It is a great place to go for drama and within a short time, I have become far more confident and expressive' Youth Theatre Student

'We have sent both of our children to Youth Theatre at Norden Farm and have seen dramatic improvements in there ability, confidence, social awareness and expressiveness generally and specifically. The environment is safe and developmental in a broad and exciting sense' Alex - parent

Autumn - Improvisation Term
Wed 11 Sept - 18 Dec, exc 30 Oct (14 weeks)
6.05pm - 7.30pm
£180

Senior Youth Theatre Booking Form

'Drama has upped my confidence remarkably and I’m getting better every time, it’s my favourite club and I look forward to it each week' Senior Youth Theatre Student

'The youth theatre is one of the best dramas clubs ever, we can express ourselves' Senior Youth Theatre Student

'The instructor is very supportive and everyone is very respectful' Senior Youth Theatre Student

•  18 Dec

Led by Jim Maving

For novice guitarists who can string chords together, strum confidently and move between chords with some ease, to take the next steps. You will learn some classic songs, interesting chords, light music theory and the 12-bar blues.

These classes are split by skills level:

Beginners A - Recently completed the Absolute Beginners course but still some way to go. Yet to tackle bar chords and complicated rhythms.

Beginners B - Well on the way and able to do bar chords.

Beginners C - Almost Intermediate but not quite yet.

If you've never played guitar you need to book on the Absolute Beginners course!

Autumn
Wed 11 Sept – 9 Oct (5 weeks)
Wed 16 Oct – 20 Nov, exc 23 Oct (5 weeks)
Wed 4 Dec – 18 Dec (3 weeks)

7pm - 8pm

£50 per 5 week course | £30 per 3 week course

This class will take place both in person and online via Zoom.

You will find the link to access the session in your booking confirmation email

Suitable for ages 18+ years.

•  18 Dec