Who can take part in each of the classes? Class participants A children and teenagers B adults C all ages The Mon

M: Right, so can you give us a few ideas about what classes people might do there? Is it all art classes?
W: Um, well, there are some very good art classes, but there are lots of other things going on as well. So, for example, there’s ’Learn Salsa’ with Nina Balina’s team. They say that salsa is an easy dance to learn. It’s also an excellent form of exercise, according to Nina, and that class is for both men and women, of course. It’s ideal for beginners and what they call ’refreshers’. That’s ￡100 for ten sessions.
Then another class is called ’Smooth Movers’. It’s with Kevin Bennett and it’s for you if you don’t have the same energy levels as you used to when you were a teenager. It’s a gentle exercise class, geared to the needs of whoever is in the group in a particular session. And Kevin is qualified to teach classes to people getting over injuries and so on, and balance training. That’s ￡60 for ten sessions.
Then there’s a day called ’Art of the Forest’, with Jamie Graham, where you discover Upper Wood, a short walk from the Colville Centre, and learn how to design in 3-D with natural materials. It’s an unusual and exciting way to be creative. Jamie is an artist, with a background also as a country park ranger. For this day, youngsters must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and the costs are: adults ￡40, under-14s ￡10, but its best value at ￡80 for a family of four.
The next one is The Money Maze, and this is a series of talks by Peter O Reilly, an Independent Financial Adviser. He gives advice on family finances, things like everything parents need to know about managing the costs of bringing up children, sending them to university, and actually, also, about care for elderly relatives. It’s ￡10 per talk, which will all go to support Forward Thinking.
And as a final example of what’s on offer, there’s ’Make a Play’. That’s for 8-14s and this activity is such a hit that it usually sells out within days of being announced. Basically what you do is write, rehearse and perform a play in just two days and it doesn’t require any previous experience. I gather there’s lots of fun and silliness along the way and the best bit perhaps is that there’s a performance for family and friends at the end. It’s just ￡50 for two days.
M: Pretty good range of activities, I think. And all raising money for a good cause.
W: Yes! And the all-important contact details are: colville@ forwardthinking.org.uk or write to me.