Community Activities
Community Courses are designed to widen participation, and bring our community closer together
Our Community Courses are free of charge and/or donation based; all you need to do is fill out a membership and enrolment form!
Find Your Active
Thanks to the generous support of Active Essex, we are able to offer 3 free courses to help you be more active this year!
Seated Dance
with Rachel Newby
Seated Dance is a gentle class for movers of all abilities.
Rachel guides learners through simple movement to music that can even be practiced at home. Using props such as scarves and ribbons, or just the body, this is a fantastic way to explore how movement to music can enhance your mood and wellbeing.
Despite the gentle activity your whole body will really benefit from these fun and revitalising sessions. You don’t need any special outfit and the movements can be done in your normal clothes and shoes as long as they are comfortable.
“Brilliant. Uplifting. Exhilarating”
Tai Chi & Qi Gong
with Richard Edwards
Tai Chi & Qi Gong is the perfect way to start moving more this year. Learn the gentle yet transformative art of Tai Chi with our resident expert: Richard Edwards. Not sure if it’s for you, just come along and give it a go! You will be amazed how fun and relaxing it feels. You don’t need any special outfit and Tai Chi can be done in your normal clothes as long as they are comfortable. Shoes should be comfortable too. Qigong is a Healing Art. It is also an important branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine known as “Chinese Yoga” and has significant similarities to Tai Chi, as both work on Qi and life. In a practice, body movement, breathing techniques, sound meditation and mind activity are used to directly work on Qi – our energy or life force. Practiced by millions worldwide, Qigong is a powerful and effective tool for preventing illness and improving health. Time: 18:30 - 19:45.
Contemporary Dance
with Rachel Newby
Join the wonderful Rachel Newby for Contemporary Dance!
Don’t worry if you’ve never danced in this way before, or done any kind of dance – this class is open to all.
Rachel will take participants through appropriate warm-ups to wake up the muscle groups and as the sessions progress, longer, slightly more complicated exercises will be given. The classes are relaxed and fun and performed to a great variety of music.
This session will involve coordination exercises, use of the spine, working in parallel and turned out position and give the dancers a sense of freedom and change of dynamics. Music from across genres and decades are used to change the pace and create different moods.
Bedford House Gardeners
THURSDAYS (every first Thursday of each month)
Gardening Sessions take place in the front and rear garden at Bedford House.
If you have gardening experience, we hope you will share it with the other participants, but you do not need experience to join the Gardening sessions
Gardening is a great opportunity for gentle physical exercise, socialising, learning basic gardening skills, or sharing gardening skills, and reconnecting with nature, self and others.
Gardening sessions are 2 hours long (you can leave any time). The session runs between 10:00 and 12:00.
1st Thursday of the month
Sessions are free
If you are interested, please contact the Administration Office on 020 8504 6668 to express your interest and to check the next session is taking place.
Bedford House Crafters
MONDAYS 10:30-12:30
The Bedford House Crafters with Jo Brunt.
The BH Crafters meet weekly at Bedford House for crafting sessions led by our wonderful Craft Coordinator, Jo Brunt. Jo teaches a range of crafting techniques.
This is a friendly, chatty and supportive group for people of all abilities. Don’t worry if you’ve never crafted before, Jo is always on hand with expert advice!
This course is generously supported by Jo Brunt and facilitated by BHCA.
Course is free | donation based
COURSE CODE: 055
Starts 13 January
£5 Forest Walk Tasters
Taster Sessions:
Dates: Thursdays, 15 & 22 January 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Cost: £5 per session
The offer is only open to new members, or members who have not previously been enrolled on the Forest Walks in the last 12 months.
Discover the Beauty of Epping Forest
Step into a sanctuary where time slows down, everyday stresses fade, and each step brings you closer to nature. Meet new friends, breathe in the fresh air, and soak up the stunning landscape—all while staying active and exploring the great outdoors.
What You Need to Know:
Distance: 4–5 miles, circular routes
Terrains: Varied, including hills, mud, and occasional obstacles
Starting Point: Varies from week to week
Footwear: Walking boots are essential, especially in winter (trainers are unsuitable)
Supporting Community Courses
If you’d like to support BHCA to further our ability to provide free experiences for the community, and are able to make a donation or ‘pay-it-forward’, BHCA would be incredibly grateful. All our payable courses are subsidised 25-30% by our other income streams. If you can help to bridge the gap that would be much appreciated. Donation pots are situated in Reception and the Kitchen for any surplus lose change. We can also take donations via card, BACS, or you can make a donation direct on our website from the Donate Today button in our website header.
If you’re a business or independent funder looking to support a course, email office@bedfordhouse.org.uk.