What we’re about
The Goodlife Centre provides interesting practical ‘hands on’ workshops where everyone can gain new skills and enjoy expanding their confidence and abilities. All classes are open to men and women and are intended to teach skills to beginners and are not intended as trade training courses. We do not test or evaluate – so you can relax while you learn.
Our workshop leaders are all experts in their field and enjoy passing on their knowledge in an informal and safe environment. In any course, you will learn by practice and enjoy the support of fellow classmates. The classes are small, which makes plenty of time for one on one learning.
Some of the evening workshops incorporate on going learning. You can return to increase your level of understanding.
If you are frustrated by your own inability to tackle a task, or resentful of having to pay someone to take care of simple home maintenance – welcome. We know how annoying it is to have to wait till some handy side kick can get round to the tasks you wish would just get done.
For many who spend their days typing at a keyboard or in a job with abstract goals, the level of satisfaction from learning a practical skill is a wonderful stress buster after an unfulfilled day.
If you are a DIY phobic, a bit wary or a Gung Ho ‘Let me at it’ type, our small practical classes aim to fast track you through the basics, guided by professionals who will share their expertise to instill you with the confidence to go it alone.
If you hanker for more knowledge about maintaining your property or would just love to learn more skills – Come on down.
Please contact us via our website to ask any questions.
* Listings for our events on Meet Up is for information only. *
* Booking is ONLY possible via https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk*
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- CARPENTRY FOR BEGINNERS – 6 DAYS – WOOD TABLEThe Goodlife Centre, LondonGBP 650.00
Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-6-days-wood-table-3/
⋆⋆⋆Using a mixture of traditional hand tools and modern drills and saws, experienced Woodworker, Len Conway will guide and inspire you as he teaches age old techniques in joinery. As you begin making objects traditionally constructed from seasoned pine, you will learn how to use and care for chisels, saws, planes and spoke-shaves. Len is an experienced woodworker and teacher.
Students will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.
Over 6 weeks, we will cover many aspects of traditional carpentry tuition. There will be lots of practical exercises in each session including a project to make a simple frame table that you will take home.
Students will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.Over 6 weeks, we will cover many aspects of traditional carpentry tuition. There will be lots of practical exercises in each session including a project to make a simple frame table that you will take home.
- INTRO TO WOODWORK – FLIP LID DOVETAIL BOX – 6 AFTERNOONSThe Goodlife Centre, LondonGBP 380.00
Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-flip-lid-dovetail-box-6-afternoons-46/
⋆⋆⋆Suitable for: Confident beginners
Course length: 6 weeks – afternoons
Dates: See below for individual dates/times
Key tools: Marking tools, hand saws, chisels, hand planes
Project: Flip-lid dovetail boxDetails:
An absorbing five-week course for confident beginners and an enjoyable learning experience for anyone with a little woodworking experience. Using a fusion of hardwood and softwood, this five-week course will teach you the fundamentals of woodwork and give you an opportunity to use classic hand tools; brass-backed tenon saws, sharp wood chisels and delicately honed vintage wood planes.This well-proportioned flip-lidded box is constructed of European redwood using a single dovetail joint at each corner and the fitted hardwood lid is attached to the base by a handmade ‘dowel’ peg hinge. The project will familiarise learners with many classic woodwork techniques and is taught with patience and enthusiasm by Andy Nicholl, who has devised this informative and challenging project.
You will take home a treasure to treasure- and we hope it will enthuse you to learn how to make many handmade woodwork projects in the years to come.
If your keyboard-weary hands have been needing the skill to fulfil and satisfy a yearning desire to create something you can hold, come and join us in our well-equipped and inspiring workshops and discover the wonderful world of woodwork.
Key skills:
- Measuring marking and cutting dovetail joints to make an accurate framed box.
- Planing and shaping a hardwood lid to fit the softwood frame base.
- Making and fitting a hardwood dowel joint to attach the frame base to the lid.
- CARPENTRY FOR BEGINNERS – 10 EVENINGS – WOOD TABLEThe Goodlife Centre, LondonGBP 540.00
Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-12-evenings-wood-table-36/
⋆⋆⋆In this throw away age, when all the furniture we own is assembled and not built, we are pleased to offer an opportunity to spend some precious time learning how to use ageless tools to make something everlasting from wood – a beautiful softwood coffee table.
These 12 afternoons/evenings are a perfect starting point for many aspects of woodwork that will give you confidence to choose and replicate basic wood joints into other projects.
Using a mixture of traditional hand tools and modern drills and saws, our experienced tutor will guide and inspire you as they teach age old techniques in carpentry. As you begin making wood joints traditionally constructed from seasoned pine, you will learn how to use and care for chisels, saws, planes and spoke-shaves.
You will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.
There will be lots of practical exercises in each of the first six sessions. You will then begin to make a simple frame with birch plywood top that you will take home.
Step I – We will get familiar with some tools of the trade:
- Introducing basic tools. Equipping a toolbox for home carpentry.
- Timber selection/marking out and cutting. Tips on woods, saws and drills.
- Using a plane, different types of planes. Sharpening tips and practice.
- Using a chisel and its uses. Sharpening tips and practice.
Step II – You will use planes, chisels and marking tools:
- Simple joints and why we use them.
- Half joints, lap joints. Practice using chisels and planes.
- Bridle joints and a mortise and tenon
Step III – You will make a simple project to take home:
- Work from selected pine and measure, mark and cut pieces.
- Choose and make joints, assemble and secure with adhesive or screws.
It’s fast paced but with the support of the tutor, you will complete your own project to make a simple frame and legs for a small table with a smart birch plywood top.
Absolute beginners. No prior experience in woodworking or woodcarving is required for this course. The use of all tools and materials is included.
- INTRO TO TRADITIONAL UPHOLSTERY – EVENINGSThe Goodlife Centre, London
Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-traditional-upholstery-evening-32/
⋆⋆⋆KEY PROJECT: TRADITIONALLY STITCHED AND SEWN EDGED FOOTSTOOL
All of our upholstery classes are for absolute beginners. It doesn’t matter which one you choose to take first. Each technique that is offered is part of all the processes that every upholsterer has to learn.6-week workshop. Thursday nights. 6:30pm – 9pm.
A perfect course for a beginner. Jumpstart your knowledge of traditional upholstery skills and methods.
Over six Thursday evenings, experienced upholsterers will guide you through the wonderful world of upholstery and help you build a fabulous footstool using traditional methods. You can leave your project at the centre in between classes.
Before the advent of foam in the middle of the twentieth century, the only way to make wooden seats more comfortable was to build up layers using available materials. Our small fabric footstool (above) is built from layers of woven webbing, hessian, vegetable fibre, animal hair and calico and is sewn with specialist needles and stitches. Although this method is more labour-intensive than the modern method of using foam, it is much longer lasting and preferred in more expensive pieces of furniture. This is the method used in many traditional chair seats, so once learned, you can apply this method to your own projects.
We provide everything for the workshop, from the wood frame to the set of natural beech wood legs that are included for you to paint or stain as you wish. Choose from our selection of top fabrics, or bring your own. You will need about a metre of fabric and you will not need it until the final class. The use of all tools and materials is included. We also have a selection of specialist upholstery tools and all the materials that we use in our workshops for sale at the Goodlife Centre for you to continue your new hobby at home.
Beginners welcome.
This course is run on a Thursday evening over 6 consecutive weeks. 6:30pm – 9:00pm
