New DIY courses to take place in the Burren
NEW COURSES for building, making, mending and growing practical skills have been launched by a non-profit social enterprise and will be taking place in The Burren, County Clare.
‘Common Knowledge’, a philanthropic organisation based in Ennistymon, bases itself on offering people the opportunity to build on their DIY abilities through a series of workshops and courses and is aimed at “those interested in creating a truly sustainable homelife”.
Common Knowledge Co-Founder and Co-CEO Harrison Gardner, more widely known for his show on RTÉ ‘Build Your Own’, says: “Over just a few generations, a significant decrease in our basic skills has led to a wider loss of agency, affecting our ability to meet our own basic needs, to solve our own problems and to support each other.
“We’ve set up a new type of space where people can come and learn with us to upskill and regain a sense of connection with themselves and others.”
The courses are tailored to a range of skill levels, from beginners to those with more hands-on experience in learning the fundamentals of building, or growing your own organic food, there are a range of courses taking place.
“We believe that our courses will not only provide tangible, practical benefits but will also help to build a stronger, more connected community.
“More than 600 people have already taken our Build School course and hundreds more are attending in 2023,” Harrison added.
Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Fionn Kidney, says: “In 2022 alone, we facilitated workshops for almost 400 people to build, make, mend and grow over 25 courses.
“This year, we’ll welcome even more to our courses at our new 50 acre Centre for Sustainable Living in The Burren.
“Our research shows that the greatest takeaway from our courses is confidence in our abilities, which on average, doubles for people after a week with us at Common Knowledge,” Fionn added.
The newest Common Knowledge course starts on April 14 and there are a variety to choose from, including five day courses, weekend courses, and a one day course.