Brentford Together Events

We're running workshops that teach sewing, cooking, bike maintenance, fitness, first aid, storytelling and gardening. 

To make sure we could continue to offer our free workshops, we are now running our sessions through both Zoom and Facebook Live, providing tips and ideas for making the most of the time in isolation and a space to chat and meet others.  

Workshop sessions are currently taking place weekly, with First Aid on Sundays, Fitness on Mondays, Sewing on Tuesdays, Cooking on Thursdays, and Children’s Music Mornings on Fridays. See below for more information on each of the sessions. For those new to Zoom and online workshops, For those new to Zoom and online workshops, we have a handy guide explaining how to join in here. 

This month, we’re announcing a host of exciting new workshops, including photography walks, gardening, sewing 121’s and bike maintenance.   From May onwards, Friends of Cathja will be at Brentford Market providing monthly taster sessions. These will include pop-up sessions in fitness & first aid, sewing, photography and community cooking classes.   

Join the Facebook page or keep an eye on the website for details of each session. For any queries, please contact us at [email protected].

Photography

Gwen has been a freelance photographer since 2001 and recognised for her portraits of ‘real’ people, current work includes working with the Borough of Hounslow on a campaign featuring residents of the area’s council estates and helping small businesses to develop their own Personal Brand with portraiture and lifestyle shots. 

Since moving to Brentford in 2016, genres have expanded to include the area’s eclectic mix of history, rapid regeneration, green spaces, waterways, which has inspired new work in architecture, landscape, and abstract photography.

Gwen currently sits on the Curatorial Panel at Watermans Art Centre, and is also participating in their outdoor exhibition in Hounslow’s Bell Square, ‘Future Visions,’ in which art becomes the vehicle for helping to draw people out isolation into a shared community environment.

 We will be offering 2 different workshops (one for beginners and one for intermediate) with 4 sessions each, to be held on Saturdays from 11-1pm during May and June. A fun friendly way to meet new people and learn new photography skills, each session is a mini field trip where participants will have the opportunity to discover Brentford’s hidden gems and learn a bit about the area’s rich industrial history and landscape.

BEGINNERS:  Photography Walk & Workshops

This series of 4 ‘Beginners’ workshops is perfect for people who would like to learn how to use their camera in Manual Mode.  But even if you only have a phone-camera or an automatic point-and-shoot, this course will offer lots to discover besides.

• Saturday, 1 May
• Saturday, 15 May
• Saturday, 29 May
• Saturday, 12 June

INTERMEDIATE: Photography Walk & Workshops

• Saturday, 8 May
• Saturday, 22 May
• Saturday, 5 June
• Saturday, 19 June

The series of 4 Intermediate workshops is perfect for people who already know the basics of shooting in Manual Mode and would like to further develop their eye for composition, lighting, and subject matter.

The meeting point will be in front of the Verdict Bakery (Magistrates House, Market Place, TW8 8FJ)

To ensure we all stay as safe as possible, we will be strictly limiting numbers and you will be required to book attendance in advance. 

Cooking

Sara Ward welcomes you to Hen Corner, her Urban Smallholding in West London, every Thursday. Now that we are eating more at home, ensuring that we are well fed has never been as important as it is now. Be that learning new skills, foraging in the back of the cupboard, fridge and freezer or simply getting creative with the ingredients, Sara is here to help.

Due to COVID-19, sessions are being held by video conference. Please click the link by the session to register and get joining details.

Cooking Together, Thursdays 10-11am, Zoom session

Register in advance for any of these meetings

April:

1st April - Easter Break

8th Lemon Curd Butterfly Cakes

15th Gnocchi with Squash & Sage

22nd Rhubarb Clafoutis & Honeyed Yoghurt

29th Thai Salad

May:

6th May - Garden Pesto for dressings, pasta & potatoes  

13th May - Rhubarb Scones  

20th May - Asparagus, Poached Egg & Hollandaise  

27th May - no session  

3rd June - Elderflower Cordial

Sara has prepared some additional videos on cooking tips for you to watch and will be adding more each week.

Bike repair and maintenance

In line with current government guidelines regarding COVID-19 restrictions, we are happy to announce Winston has returned to Brentford Market Place to provide advice on how to repair your bicycles and ensure that they are fit to ride safely on the roads. He will be able to check your bike, help you repair punctures, adjust brakes, gears and remove rust. 

Starting from April you can find Winston on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month between 11-1pm at Brentford Market Place. 

You can access the full risk assessment for the bike hub here.

Sewing

Mary from the Brentford Sewing Bee will be running free community classes on basic sustainable sewing skills and creative clothing projects. 

Mary is a professional dressmaker and qualified teacher, her classes offer expert advice on simple, useful sewing techniques, making your own clothes and shares her skills and enthusiasm for regenerating fashion as well as repairing and restoring garments. Formerly of Liberty and Harrods, Mary is a vintage and original creative consultant whose sustainable fashion and lifestyle design can be seen on Mary A La Mode on Instagram and in Brentford Together sessions, she will answer questions and give help on sewing projects. 

Due to Covid 19, sewing sessions are currently online on Tuesdays 18.00 to 19.00 on the Brentford Together Facebook page. 

Instagram :  @_maryalamode_ 

Click here to join us on Facebook

Fitness and First Aid

Tania Cheney is the founder of Simple First Aid, an organisation which teaches life-saving first aid skills. Simple First Aid's training is primarily focused on providing parents with first aid skills to help babies and children. Simple First Aid believes that everyone should have the opportunity to learn simple first aid life-saving skills giving them the confidence to deal with a real-life first aid emergency.

Tania is regarded as an expert speaker, and she has participated in baby shows in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Scotland to advise on first aid for babies and children. The Red Cross Movement has presented Tania with their highest award for her work with them.    

Due to COVID-19, sessions going forward are being held by online. Online fitness and first aid sessions will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Click here to join us on Facebook

Gardening & Growing Food

In line with current government guidelines regarding COVID-19 restrictions, we are happy to be bringing back our face to face gardening sessions. 

Cultivate London and Brentford Together invites you to join us in creating a garden at:

St Paul's Church

Brentford

TW8 0PN.

The aim is to create a garden oasis with fruit, flowers and healing herbs.

To ensure we all stay as safe as possible, we will be strictly limiting numbers and you will be required to book attendance in advance.  

You can find previous online session videos on the Facebook page and blog posts on how to get your garden growing. 

Click here to join us on Facebook