Saturday Club at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre
Find out more about our free Saturday Clubs for young people aged 13-16.
At the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre, we've launched two new Saturday Clubs as part of the National Saturday Club, a nationwide scheme that gives 13–16 year-olds the opportunity to try their hand at subjects they love at over 100 universities, colleges or cultural institutions, for free.
The Saturday Club offers learning programmes in eight different subject areas and develops young people’s skills, nurtures their talents and encourages their creativity. Each club takes place over 20 weeks during term time and includes hands-on activities as well as masterclasses with leading professionals and the chance to exhibit their work in a celebratory Summer Show.
Read on to find out more about this year's clubs at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre and find out how you can get involved.
Grow Wild
New for 2026-2027, our Grow Wild Saturday Club is part of the Society and Change subject area and aimed at young people aged 13-16 who want to explore the natural world, learn practical skills and help contribute to a healthier, more sustainable environment.
Over 20 Saturdays during term-time, participants will take part in hands-on activities and help to restore healthy hedgerows and wetlands, conduct wildlife surveys and discover how regenerative farming works to improve soil health, support wildlife and produce sustainable food.
Whether you're passionate about nature, curious about farming, or simply enjoy being outdoors, Grow Wild is a chance to make new friends, learn new skills and play an active role in protecting and restoring the environment.
Each session is free and takes place on Saturdays between 10am and 2.30pm. There are 16 places available and applications close on Monday 28 September. You can find out more and sign up here.
Craft and Making
Our Craft and Making Saturday Club offers young people aged 13-16 the chance to explore traditional heritage crafts and discover how these valuable skills can lead to exciting future careers.
Through hands-on workshops with skilled makers and craftspeople, participants will be introduced to skills such as blacksmithing, stained glass, wood carving, and weaving, gaining practical experience while learning about the history, creativity, and career opportunities within the heritage and craft sectors.
It's designed to inspire the next generation of makers and help young people to develop new skills, confidence, creativity, and an understanding of how traditional crafts continue to play an important role in modern industries.
Each session is free and takes place on Saturdays between 10am and 2.30pm. There are 16 places available and applications close on Monday 28 September. You can find out more and sign up here.