Building confidence, growing potential.
A first step to positively change your life.
Explore is a one day a week, socially-engaging personal development and skills programme, run over six weeks.
Designed to support, encourage and empower adults facing barriers to develop their practical skills and confidence. To establish themselves in community and succeed with engagement through support agencies, further training, volunteering and apprenticeships.
Summer 2025 Dates:
Wednesdays, 11th, 18th, 25th June and the 2nd, 9th & 16th July.
Autumn 2025 Dates:
Tuesdays, 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th November and the 2nd & 9th December.
Summer Term Venue: United Reformed Church, First Cross Rd, Twickenham TW2 5QA
Autumn Term Venue: Richmond Library Annex, Quadrant Rd, Richmond TW9 1DH
Explore offers
Explore encourages a sense of purpose and self-development whilst rediscovering confidence and reigniting potential – improving emotional and mental wellbeing.
- Social engagement through meals, workshops and a variety of activities
- Opportunities to gain motivation and grow in confidence
- Healthy lunches
- Personal empowering and wellbeing workshops by Bhuti London, and Good Life Designed
- Skills Taster workshops including: gardening with Kew Gardens, cooking and baking with Relish & Grace, and DIY with Richmond Furniture Scheme
- An introduction to money-matters workshops delivered by Crosslight Advice
- Commitment to continued support through befriending, further study and training at RHACC, volunteer opportunities through RCVS and cooking courses through Cooking Up
- Shine – an opportunity to learn barista and hospitality skills.
Explore graduates go on to a variety of destinations including paid work, higher level courses, supported training and volunteering. Our Explore graduate stories (Stories of Hope on our home page and also our community page) feature a few of our participants who are creating a bright future for themselves.
Who can apply for Explore?
- Beneficiaries aged 18+ are invited to apply.
- Unemployed or on a low income.
- Those living with a mental illness; or disability.
- Those at risk or having experienced economic or social disadvantage.
*Priority placements will be allocated to Richmond Borough residents, thereafter candidates from surrounding Boroughs will be considered.
Summer 2025 Dates:
Wednesdays, 11th, 18th, 25th June and the 2nd, 9th & 16th July.
Autumn 2025 Dates:
Tuesdays, 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th November, 2nd & 9th December
Explore FAQs
How many people typically attend?
Our group size is between 8 to 12 people.
What time does the course start and finish?
The course runs once a week (on a Tuesday) from 10–3pm — with an hour’s lunch break.
What can I expect on a typical Explore day?
Explore is a classroom style course, whereby a variety of workshops are delivered face-to-face, one day a week (Tuesday) for six weeks from 10-3pm.
We begin each day with a welcome cup of tea or coffee and a light breakfast snack. This is followed by an introductory workshop on wellbeing, led by Susie of the Love Me programme. We then have a second, longer workshop (90mins) that takes us to lunch time, where we break for an hour to share a meal over a communal table.
After lunch, we have a further workshop (90mins) which ends at 3pm. Every day of Explore is different as we offer a variety of workshops across the six weeks. Feedback forms are completed at the end of every day.
What will I learn in the 6 week course?
Through a variety of workshops, you will learn ways of enhancing your mental and physical wellbeing, experience opportunities to learn new skills with taster workshops in gardening, DIY, cooking, barista — as well as exploring your personal values and building personal profiles.
How much social interaction / engagement is required?
Although held in a low-pressure environment, our Explore workshops are both interactive and socially engaging. This means we require minimum participation with regards to answering questions, participating in practical demonstrations (i.e. teacher-led cooking / DIY / gardening), group interactions and joining in a communal lunch.
Do the sessions take place in an open area or private room?
Most of the sessions take place in a private room (sidehall) however there are a couple of workshops which take place in different locations to which we travel by bus.
What kind of challenges or barriers have participants experienced?
Our participants come from diverse backgrounds, many of whom present with social anxiety, depression, lack of confidence, loss of hope and/or who struggle with either / both mental and physical health. Typically, they have experienced life challenges such as long term unemployment, financial insecurity, addiction and / or mental / physical ill health.
What costs will I be expected to pay?
The programme itself with lunch is free and oyster travel cards are provided when travelling by bus to different workshops, i.e. Kew Gardens / Live Well Kew.
Am I expected to attend every week?
In order to receive full benefit of the programme and a certificate upon completion, we encourage attendance across all six weeks.
What happens next after the 6 week Explore programme?
We encourage continued social interaction and connection through our monthly follow on support group: Explore To More. We also extend invitations to Good Friday, Table of Hope and volunteering opportunities hosted by community partners.
Our Partners
