February Freebie Spotlight on...

Sew in the City


Sew in the City deliver a large selection of sewing, knitting, crochet and craft workshops in their dedicated sewing lounge. They run weekly craft social clubs and have a chill out area with a small library of craft books for you to be inspired. They also sell a selection of fabrics and buttons, ribbons, thread and accessories. Their sewing lounge is full of inspiration and friendly tutors, just waiting for you to join them and get creative.

Their February Freebie workshops will help young designers create their own cover for a notebook, diary, etc. using all their kit and materials. There’s no reason to have a boring notebook any longer.


Find them at February Freebie…

Monday 16thFeb, 10.00am-12.00pm and 1.00pm-3.00pm

Sew in the City will be running two workshops suitable for children aged 8-17 years. Booking is essential so call 07944 332652 for more information and to secure your place. Their venue is 119 West Bar, Sheffield, S3 8PT

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Imagination Gaming

‘Learn to play, play to learn’ is their motto and all their gamers certainly have lots of fun too!

Cool cards, intriguing boards and collectible dice are just some of the types of games that Imagination Gaming will introduce you to. We guarantee there will be at least a handful that you’ll never have seen before, but give yourself a few minutes playing them and you’ll soon be hooked! All the games have a link to learning but combined with lots of fun and challenge.


Find them at February Freebie…

Imagination Gaming are running loads of activities right across the city during February Freebie 2015. They are suitable for all ages (but mainly from age 6+) and there’s no booking necessary – just turn up! If you need any more information, please contact them on 07957 449572.

Monday 16th Feb – Crystal Peaks Library, Crystal Peaks Centre, 2.00pm-4.00pm

Monday 16th Feb – Darnall Library, Britannia Road, 4.30pm-6.15pm

Tuesday 17th Feb – Oughtibridge War Memorial Sports Club, Station Lane, 10.00am-12.30pm

Tuesday 17th Feb – Stocksbridge Library, Manchester Road, 2.00pm-4.00pm

Wednesday 18th Feb – Highfield Library, London Road, 10.00am-12.30pm

Wednesday 18th Feb – Park Library, Duke Street, 2.00pm-4.30pm

Thursday 19th Feb – Parson Cross Library, The Learning Zone, 11.00am-1.00pm

Friday 20th Feb – Totley Library, Baslow Road, 10.00am-12.00pm

Friday 20th Feb – Ecclesall Library, Ecclesall Road, 2.00pm-4.00pm

Saturday 21st Feb – Hillsborough Library, Middlewood Road, 10.30am-12.30pm

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Ignite Imaginations

Ignite Imaginations provides brilliant, high quality arts activities in areas where there is little opportunity to engage. They aim to create a bespoke, long lasting and inspiring experience. Their mission is “to ignite imaginations by increasing access to high quality creative activities.”


They offer free events and workshops focusing on visual arts and creative writing (including poetry, storytelling, textiles, sculpture, film making, painting, drawing, craft) for all ages and backgrounds. Working in partnership with the community they aim to increase confidence and skill, reduce isolation, promote usage of local spaces and increase pride and ownership over public space. Every project they deliver they aim to leave a legacy through community celebrations, exhibitions, publications or temporary or permanent changes.

Find them at February Freebie…

Join the team in finding out all about your own local community, using historical documents, photos, film footage, etc. Then work together to produce a piece of art to show what you have discovered. Suitable for all ages, booking required (ring 0114 2686813 to book your place or to find out more)


Monday 16th Feb – Broomhill Library, 2pm-4pm

Tuesday 17th Feb – Stannington Library, 1.30pm-3.30pm

Wednesday 18th Feb – Walkley Library, 10.30am-12.30pm

Wednesday 18th Feb – Valley View Community Café, 187 Blackstock Road, 2pm-4pm

Friday 20th Feb – Greenhill Library, 10.30am-12.30pm

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Awesome Walls Indoor Climbing Centre

AWCC Sheffield has a cutting edge climbing wall design that factors in climbing for all walks (climbs!) of life. Whether it's your first visit or you're at competition standard they’ll have something for you! Learn all you need to know in their CU workshops from tying those all-important knots in climbing ropes to the skills and techniques to help you reach the top!

Find them at February Freebie…

Awesome Walls are located at Garter Street, just off Carlisle Street S4 and they are running two sessions as part of February Freebie 2015.

- Monday 16th Feb, 12.00pm-1.00pm

- Tuesday 17th Feb, 12.00pm-1.00pm

Sessions are suitable for children aged 6-16 years, and booking is required. Contact 0114 2446622 to find out more and book your place.

February Freebie Spotlight on...

Academy of Self Defence

Working with the Academy of Self Defence provides real practical skills for young people as well as allowing them to let off steam at the end of the school day! They also learn to respect themselves and others, to appreciate the importance of working hard and to enjoy a sense of achievement as they develop new and exciting skills.

The Academy of Self Defence will be delivering their action-packed workshops as part of February Freebie 2015.

Find them at February Freebie…

Join Garry on Monday 16th February, 2.00pm-3.00pm at Woodhouse Library, Tannery Street. Activities are suitable for children aged 6+ and booking is essential. Contact 07738 909125 to find out more or book a place.

February Freebie Spotlight on....

Kelham Island Museum

Located in one of the city’s oldest industrial districts, the museum stands on a man-made island over 900 years old. Kelham Island Museum was opened in 1982 to house the objects, pictures and archive material representing Sheffield’s industrial story. Their interactive galleries tell the story from light trades and skilled workmanship to mass production and what it was like to live and work in Sheffield during the Industrial Revolution. Follow the growth of the steel city through the Victorian Era and two world wars to see how steelmaking forged both the city of today and the world!

Kelham Island will be running their fantastic Making Your Mark activities during February Freebie 2015. Children aged 4-11 years will be able to explore the museum learning all about the different hallmarks, logos and trademarks which set aside Sheffield products from the rest. They’ll then be able to have a go at making their very own trademark – who knows, they may become famous in the future!

Find them at February Freebie…

Join the team at Kelham Island on both Sundays in the holiday. Suitable for ages 4-11 years, booking required (ring 0114 2010625 to book your place or to find out more)

• Sunday 15th February, 11.30am-1.00pm and 1.30pm-3.00pm
• Sunday 22nd Feburary, 11.30am-1.00pm and 1.30pm-3.00pm

February Freebie 2015

February Freebie is back and bigger than ever! 

Yes, we’ve been working hard alongside our fabulous Learning Destinations to put together a programme of over 50 fun-filled activities for you to take part in during the February half term holidays – Saturday 14th February to Sunday 22nd February 2015. And the great news is that almost all of them are completely FREE! Earn one CU credit for each hour of activity in your Passport to Learning.

We have all kinds of activities from curating your own favourite toy in a museum, fire-lighting in the woods, circus skills, gaming and music, to rugby, sewing, martial arts, dance, drama and climbing. You can even learn all about keeping chickens, have a go at programming a LEGO ® robot and finding out all about Sheffield’s famous trademarks and even the famous things you never knew about your own local community.   

All these activities are happening right across Sheffield, so get involved! All you need to do is:

1. Get a Passport to Learning (available from Sheffield libraries and some Learning Destinations for £2)

2. Get your parent/carer to sign the consent sticker in the front

3. Download the leaflet which lists all activities taking place (also available by clicking the link on the right hand side of this blog) or pick one up from your local library or Learning Destination, choose your activity and book your place! 

Please be aware that some activities require booking and some require a parent/carer to accompany the child.

4. Have lots of fun!

Don’t forget, let us know what you learned and how much fun you had. Perhaps you could even send us a picture of you taking part in the activities*?

Make sure you follow us on Twitter (@SheffieldCU) for the latest news on February Freebie 2015 (we’ll be using the hashtag #FebFreebie2015) and find us on Facebook (SheffieldCU) for all the fun of February Freebie 2015!

*any photos we receive may be used on our website, social media and other publications, so only send us your pics if you’re happy for us to use them in this way.

Membership for home-educated children

We are excited be be able to launch individual membership for home-educated children - from January 2015, each hour of learning that takes place at validated Learning Destinations (approved activity providers) out of ‘normal school time’ will earn home-educated children and young people one credit.

It's taken us a little while to develop our policy for home educated children and young people, and we apologise for any delay. It was very important to get it right to make sure we could award children and young people with the credits they have earned whilst maintaining the high quality service we currently provide to our schools, Learning Destinations and families.

We already have a few families signed up to this scheme and look forward to welcoming even more!

For more information about how to join Children's University if your child is home educated, please visithttps://www.sheffield.gov.uk/education/information-for-parentscarers/at-school/sheffield-childrens-university/home-educated-children.html