Crochet

**Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned master, join Our Chess Enthusiast Group for Social Fun and Friendly Matches** **This is the perfect opportunity to socialise, make new friends, and engage in the intellectually stimulating and entertaining world of chess.** **Our chess group is a diverse and inclusive community, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds and experience levels. We believe that chess is a game that transcends age and gender, uniting people in the pursuit of strategic brilliance and camaraderie. Whether you're a novice looking to learn the ropes or a grandmaster seeking challenging opponents, our group is the ideal place for you.** **When and Where We Meet** **We gather every Saturday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at a convenient and accessible location:** **Venue: 245 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 8PW** **Our chosen venue is not only a clean and safe space but also secure, ensuring that your chess sessions are enjoyable and worry-free.** **Additionally, there is an indoor cafe on-site, so you can relax with a refreshing beverage and delicious snacks between matches.** **What to Expect** **When you join our chess enthusiast group, you can look forward to a variety of chess-related activities:** 1. **Engage in chess matches with players of varying skill levels, providing a perfect opportunity to improve your game or showcase your expertise.** 2. **Connect with fellow chess enthusiasts who share your passion, fostering new friendships and a sense of community.** 3. **If you're a beginner, our more experienced members are always willing to offer guidance and tips to help you grow as a chess player.** 4. **We occasionally organise chess tournaments and special events, allowing you to challenge yourself and compete for prizes.** **Reserve Your Space** **Due to space limitations, we kindly request that you reserve your spot before attending our chess gatherings. This ensures that we can accommodate everyone and maintain a comfortable atmosphere for all participants. To reserve your space or inquire about the group, please reach out to us via email magdyelalfy@gmail.com** **While we do provide chess sets at our venue, we encourage members to bring their own if they have one. Personalising your chess experience with your preferred set can add a unique touch to your games.** **Join us at 245 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 8PW, and be a part of a vibrant and engaging chess community. Whether you're in it for the love of the game, the social interactions, or both, our chess enthusiast group offers a fantastic platform to indulge your passion for chess and make new friends along the way. We look forward to welcoming you into our fold and sharing the joy of chess with you.** **For reservations, Click attend on the meetup App.** **Come and make your next move with us – both on the chessboard and in your social circle!**

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/make-a-roman-blind-95](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/make-a-roman-blind-95) ⋆⋆⋆ Suitable for beginners. Enjoyable for everyone. One-day workshop. 10am – 5pm. Drawn to the look of fashionable roman blinds but not sure how to make them yourself? Then this one day workshop is for you. From measuring the window to fixing it to the wall, experienced tutor, Ian McQueen will guide you through the tools and techniques for making bespoke and accurately fitting blinds for any room in your house. During the day, you will master the art of producing a fabulous window treatment. You will make a sample blind using a 75cm x 1-metre drop piece of fabric. We keep our workshops very small for this discipline as you will need room to spread out when you are measuring and sewing so we aren’t able to make larger samples. You can take your professional handiwork home with pride. You will learn what to buy when shopping for cords and rings and how to select a suitable fabric to bring perfection and privacy to your decor. The Goodlife Centre has a varied selection of quality fabrics for you to use.

June's brunch club will be held at the **[Coach House Café](http://www.coachhousecafecroydon.co.uk/)**. It is a bistro restaurant situated in the heart of the beautiful Coombe Wood. Weather permitting this gives us a good opportunity to walk off the food in the surrounding countryside after the event - or just turn up for a slap-up feed! A selection of cooked breakfasts are available, as well as sandwiches, wraps and panini. Cakes are also on offer and if you're after something a bit more substantial then burgers and other main meals can be found on the menu - for a full list see the menu link at the bottom of [the café's "Food & Drink" page](http://www.coachhousecafecroydon.co.uk/food-and-drink). The café is a bit further out from Central Croydon than usual locations for Brunch Club but is still in easy reach of public transport. Location information (including a map) can be found on [the café's Contact Us page.](http://www.coachhousecafecroydon.co.uk/contact-us) The number 3 tram (New Addington direction) can be taken from outside East Croydon station; if you get off at the Lloyd Park stop and carry on in the same direction the tram was going it's only a ten minute walk to Coombe Wood \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- The Croydon Brunch Club is (usually) held on the 2nd weekend of every month. It's an opportunity to meet others from in and around Croydon over a relaxed coffee or brunch, dished up by the great chef. All are welcome to this informal and relaxed monthly gathering of the great and good of Croydon. This is a social networking event and is not the place to pitch your business, dish out fliers or sign people up to services. Please contact organiser Ben if you would like to collaborate on something you feel is relevant to the group.

**Do you ever feel the pull to be creative, but don’t know how to start, or even what you want to make?** **Do you ever get a flash of inspiration, but never have the time or energy to follow it through?** **Do you worry that you have to become technically skilled before you have the 'right' to make art?** **If you answered yes to any of the above, then this event is for you!** As children, we create all the time. We sing, draw and write as part of our normal lessons. We make sandcastles, secret dens, friendship bracelets, invent ball games and make up elaborate storylines for dolls and action figures. We don’t fear failure because the point isn’t to succeed, but to express ourselves and have fun. In fact there’s a whole branch of folklore called childlore! But as adults, it can become hard to connect with that creative instinct, whether that’s due to time, energy, cost or self-doubt. So for this event, we’ll be taking time and space to connect with what inspires us and flex our creativity just for the fun of it. Skill and experience levels don’t matter (although those who are skilled or experienced are welcome!)-what matters is remembering what creative inspiration feels like to you personally, and pursuing it to create something authentic to you. To do this, we’ll be emulating artists across millennia in using folklore as inspiration. A collection of folklore genres will be supplied, each containing a collection of prompts, and you will be picking a piece of folklore that speaks to you on that day and creating a piece of art based on your own interpretation of your prompt. This art can be anything, from poetry to sketching, sewing to architecture, make up, set design, tattoo art, songwriting, fashion, game design or event planning-whatever your prompt inspires you to create! You can choose to do several pieces or spend the whole session on one. Paper and pencils will be provided, but please feel free to bring other materials so long as they are not disruptive to the people or environment around us (eg no liquid paints, musical instruments, etc). Please note: this is not a technical lesson! No specific creative skills will be taught, as the aim is connecting with your own personal creative process. But you are welcome to take your pieces home with you to hone your skills. If there are specific areas of folklore that you would like to see prompts for we would love to include them! Please feel free to message Kathy with your ideas :) (This is a free event, so we ask that you please keep RSVPs updated to ensure that as many people as possible who want to come are able to. Cancellations with less than three days’ notice may be removed from the group to prevent wasted spaces in future. Many thanks for your understanding!)

**🥾Hike Details** **• Distance:** 22 km **• Hiking Time:** Approx. 5.5 hours **• Grade:** Moderate **• Ascent:** 330 m **• Pace:** Steady with breaks for lunch and photos **• Cost:** £30 per person (includes guided Hike & return train tickets) **👣 Hike Description** This rewarding circular hike along the **beautiful Greensand Ridge,** just south of the North Downs. This route offers a perfect mix of woodland, **open valley**, and sweeping viewpoints. Along the way, we’ll enjoy striking contrasts between the lush **Darent Valley**, panoramic views across to the North Downs. We begin across **Limpsfield Common**, a peaceful National Trust landscape, before heading through the charming Darent Valley and climbing onto the wooded heights of **Crockhamhill Common**. From there, we loop toward **Chartwell, the historic family home of Winston Churchill,** where we’ll catch glimpses of the house and its surrounding countryside. The route continues through **Hosey Common,** a diverse 64-hectare woodland of broadleaved trees, and onward to **High Chart** and parts of the Titsey Estate and Squerryes Park. We then cross back over our outward path at **Limpsfield Chart** and return via more scenic sections of Limpsfield Common. Our walk finishes in the picturesque **village of Limpsfield,** known for its well-preserved historic buildings, before heading back to Oxted. **🌟Highlights:** * Panoramic views across the **North Downs and High Weald** * Peaceful **woodland trails** and open countryside * Scenic Darent Valley section * **Glimpses of Chartwell, Churchill’s historic home** * Diverse habitats across **Hosey Common and High Chart** * Charming finish through the historic village of Limpsfield **📍⏰Meeting Point & Time** **Location:** London Bridge Rail Station next to main ticket office **Depart:** Meet us 08:45 am, we leave 09:05 am for 10:01 am train **Return:** 05:32 pm Back in London Bridge(commitment required until then). **Your guide:** Raj – local trail expert and experienced group leader **On-the-day contact:** 07788 839784 (available on hike day only) **🎒What to Bring** \- Sturdy hiking boots \- Water & packed lunch/snacks \- Weather\-appropriate clothing \(layers\, windbreaker\) \- Sun protection \(hat\, sunscreen\) \- Optional: camera\, walking poles **What not included:** Food and drinks, personal insurance, and any personal expenses. **By booking and attending this event, you agree to our [Terms and Conditions](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ATwisQ4GPE0KszBmFVy8wK4thfCKKlGF/view?usp=sharing)** **© 2026 Outdoorly Adventures Ltd. All rights reserved**

Step away from the online ads and join Offline Women Going Thrifting. Modern shopping is often fast and wasteful, so we are heading out to find a better way. Thrifting is an act of resistance against a system that wants us to keep buying new things. Every item we buy second-hand is one less thing in a landfill, thousands of liters of water saved and supports a charity at the same time. In Charity Shops we can find pieces that were made to last, high-quality fabrics and timeless styles that haven't been dictated by an algorithm. We will meet outside the **Octavia Foundation** in Pimlico (where fashion insiders go), just a few minutes from Victoria Station. We will tuck away our devices before exploring the cluster of around eight charity shops nearby. Please bring a reusable bag and your best eye for hidden gems. Come as you are and leave with unique finds and a lighter footprint on the earth. P.S. Thank you, Angie, for suggesting this wonderful idea. Follow us on [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCZyvCD38CTaXBpQ72V) to get early tickets for our upcoming events.

Join the London Women Chess Club (LWCC) for our weekly social chess session in a friendly, supportive and inclusive environment. Whether you are completely new to chess, returning after a break, or already playing competitively, you are very welcome. LWCC is an ECF award-winning community initiative dedicated to encouraging more women and girls to play chess, build confidence, and progress into competitive play if they wish. We are proud to see new members joining every month, with many progressing into league matches and tournaments. What to expect * Friendly social games * Opportunities to improve your chess * Informal group coaching and guidance to help members progress * Information about tournaments and league opportunities * A respectful and supportive environment * A growing community of women supporting each other through chess Who can join * Women and girls of all levels * Complete beginners are very welcome * Players returning after a break * Competitive players looking for a supportive community How to join LWCC To help us maintain a safe and well-organised community, we ask new members to complete our short membership form before joining our WhatsApp community. [Membership registration](https://form.jotform.com/241453653475359) [Group Coaching ](https://pci.jotform.com/form/241475449120353) Our WhatsApp group is shared with registered members so we can keep communication relevant and maintain a positive environment for everyone. About London Women Chess Club London Women Chess Club is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) focused on making chess more accessible to women and creating a positive pathway into competitive chess. We collaborate with libraries, chess organisations and the English Chess Federation to build a strong and sustainable women’s chess community in London. [Instagram!](https://www.instagram.com/londonwomenchessclub) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-women-chess-club/)

This hands-on textile jewellery making workshop in London is an introduction to the pearl-setting technique, through the creation of a finished multi-strand textile bracelet!No previous embroidery or jewellery-making experience is required. This workshop is suitable for complete beginners, textile enthusiasts, fashion students, and anyone interested in handmade accessories with a historical reference.**What to expect:** * Make your own bracelet using beads, cotton cords, and hand-stitching. * The design is inspired by historical textile jewellery and medieval accessories, but the final piece is made to be worn now -- with summer dresses, linen, denim, or holiday outfits. * You’ll choose from a selection of materials provided on the day and complete your bracelet during the workshop. * Learn fun new jewellery making skills in a relaxed, supportive environment. By the end of the workshop, you'll leave wearing your very own handcrafted bracelet and the skills to explore textile jewellery-making further.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/hand-caning-furniture-96/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/hand-caning-furniture-96/) **⋆⋆⋆** **Also known as Hand, Strand or Hole-to-Hole Caning.** KEY PROJECT: HAND CANED WOOD FRAME. Suitable for beginners. Enjoyable for all. One-day weekend workshop. 10am – 5pm. Ever seen a great chair in a junk shop but noticed that the caning that spans the seat is sadly coming away at the edges? Sometimes a chair that had been caned has had an unsightly slab of plywood tacked onto the broken seat. This is an opportunity to increase your upholstery know-how and bring a ‘once pretty’ seat up to scratch. Now you will be able to snap up a bargain and re-cane the seat yourself. The task is not as daunting as you think and can be done easily in a domestic setting with no specialist equipment- unless a washing-up bowl and some golf tees could be defined as such. This is a very old traditional craft, sometimes known as hand, strand or hole-to-hole caning. Specialist split cane is woven from side to side and fixed in place. During the one-day workshop, upholstery expert Netty Erw will inspire confidence while guiding you through the stages of intertwining the fine split canes. At the end of the day, you will have completed a square panel of traditional caning to take home with pride. The skills learnt during the day will enable you to embark on your own project at home. Netty has learned her skills from her clever aunt Rachael South, who in turn learned from her grandfather. We are thrilled to share in this generation's cascade of talent. All use of tools and materials supplied. We have a cane to buy after the course if you want to get started as soon as you get home. Beginners welcome. No previous experience in upholstery is required. If your chair is wobbly or scuffed – or even repainted, you can come to our ‘[Intro to Furniture Restoration](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/furniture-restoration-wood-revival/)‘ day course and learn how to make it look loved and valued again.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-altering-clothes-12/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-altering-clothes-12/) ⋆⋆⋆ Learn to refashion your fashion and save it from landfill. A one-day weekend workshop learning to re-love your wardrobe. Frustrated by all those simple alterations you have to take to the dry cleaner to fix? Taking up hems? Repairing a jacket lining? No, you will soon be able to tackle those jobs yourself – even if you have never used a sewing machine. Do you have a favourite shirt with a rip in it? Do you have a skirt that doesn’t quite fit anymore? In an age that encourages us to buy less clutter, learning how to keep clothes going for longer can mean more than just a tiny spot of darning. Spend the day learning to give your clothing a new lease of life and personalising them with your individual style. Bring your outgrown but loved clothes to this beginner-friendly day workshop and re-create them into something special again. Maybe things look a bit dated and could be converted to a new style or you just want to know how to turn charity shop finds into well-fitting couture. As everyone will undoubtedly bring something different to work on, you will learn and be inspired from each other’s projects too and therefore be able to go home and refashion even more items to give them a new lease of life. Expert clothesmaker Deborah Andrews will guide this small class through the day working on your individual projects. We have easy-to-use sewing machines for everyone as well as a small selection of scrap fabrics you can use as embellishments or patches. Bring any old or new materials you want to use too. **About Deborah** Deborah graduated from Camberwell College of Arts with a BA Hons in Illustration. Over the years she has developed her own practice of drawing and illustration to combine machine embroidery with digital imagery and a bit of old-school pen and paper for good measure. Her clients include The Guardian Newspapers, The Barbican, Latitude Festival, Danny Boyle’s Shuffle Festival, Vital Arts and The Big Draw. She has been teaching drawing, fashion & clothes making, and creative textiles for over 20 years. [www.deborahandrews.co.uk](http://www.deborahandrews.co.uk/)

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-step-up-low-wood-stool-2-sundays-12/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-step-up-low-wood-stool-2-sundays-12/) ⋆⋆⋆ **Course:** Make a Step Up Stool **About:** Learn how to measure and mark timber accurately, use a chisel and a vintage ‘Granny’s tooth’ hand router to cut out grooves to house the legs into the sides of the stool. This course is another charming project from our a cherished Edwardian instructional woodwork manual, ‘Carpentry for Beginners’. The projects in the book are perfect for learning basic woodwork skills and we have refined the instructions to incorporate a modern craft construction. This classic ‘child’s stool’ is a handy ‘hop up’ you can use if you have shelves you can’t reach at home and small ones can reach the sink by standing on it. It measures 40cm x 22cm x 26cm high. We use a redwood pine wood that releases a heady and uplifting scent when cut, chiseled and planed. Even if you have never used any tools, a professional cabinet maker will teach you the processes you will need to take home a future heirloom along with a very special sense of satisfaction that comes with crafting by hand. You will learn how to measure and mark timber accurately, use a chisel and a vintage ‘Granny’s tooth’ hand router to cut out grooves to house the legs into the sides of the stool. By the time you have finished your useful step up stool, you will have become familiar with many of the basic woodworking hand tools and increased your confidence to go on and do more general woodwork at home.

12:45-3:45 in the Meeting Room, Library lowest leve, by the drinking fountain. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends. Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street. See you there!

5:45-7:45 in Conference Room B, Library lower level. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends. If you plan to attend, please RSVP yes. If you can’t attend, please change your RSVP to no. This helps anyone who is waitlisted and it allows me to have an accurate count of attendees as our space is quite limited. Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street. See you there!

**Join us for an afternoon of community art and craft time!** Whether you are looking to carve out dedicated creative time, wanting to get a lingering project across the finish line, or just looking to chat with fellow local makers—this is the space for you. 🧵 **What to Bring** Bring any art or craft project you are currently working on, as long as it is portable and quiet. Think: * **Yarn & Thread:** Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, hand-sewing, mending. * **Paper & Sketching:** Sketchbooks, adult coloring books, watercolors, bullet journaling. * **Digital:** Tablets, iPad drawing, laptop writing/design. * *Please note: Because we are meeting in a shared public space, no power tools, sewing machines, or high-odor materials (like strong solvents or spray glues), please!* **📍 Where to Find Us** * We will be meeting at **Columbus Metropolitan Library - Hilltop Branch** in **Meeting Room 4**. Room is reserved under **CBUS Maker Meetup.** **⏱️ Timeline** * **1:00 PM:** Arrive, grab a seat, get settled, and do a quick round of introductions so we can see what everyone is working on. * **1:15 PM - 3:00 PM:** Open maker time! Chat, craft, relax, and swap creative ideas. **⚠️ A Note on RSVPs** The RSVP count for this event is strictly limited to 10 spots. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot. Please try to give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel, allowing folks on the waitlist time to check their schedule. *** **We can't wait to meet you and see what you're making! All skill levels welcome.**

12:45-345 in the Meeting Room, Library lowest level by the drinking fountain. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends. Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street. See you there!

12:45-3:45 in the Meeting Room, library lowest level, by the drinking fountain. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends. Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street. See you there!

**$45 chose your own design**

This is a time where players of all ages, and skill levels can gather and enjoy a nice Sunday full of Chess!