Doing in Dudley

A member of the Dudley community

About Doing in Dudley

Doing in Dudley challenges how we think about, experience and use our High Street. We create opportunities for connection, experimentation and learning. Through a varied range of thoughtfully designed activities we invite curiosity, nurture creativity and unlock collective resourcefulness.

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Visit our website at https://doingindudley.net

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Latest posts

Share a skill or your knowledge in a Trade School class online

Accomplished at crochet? Experienced urban hen keeper? Inspiring spoken word artist? Talented designer? Whatever your skill, we can guarantee you’ll make someone’s day by sharing it.

Trade School Online is an exciting experiment created by the people behind Trade School Dudley, Trade School Wolverhampton, Trade School Bearwood and Trade School Digbeth to connect, celebrate and share what people in our communities can do.

Share a skill, some knowledge or a talent in a single class online, in exchange for small barter items from your learners.

We're hosting an informal online chat on Fri 3 July for people curious about how Trade School Online will work, and for people who have ideas for a class they would like to teach online. Planning classes together is a fun way to meet other people, these sessions often lead to wonderful connections being made. (Sign up link: https://bit.ly/TSOnline3July2020)

If you already have an idea in mind it would be useful if you could also fill in this class offer form: https://bit.ly/tradeschoolonline

As well as support to plan your classes, you will also have hosting and tech support from a friendly Trade School Organiser on the day of your class.
When
03 Jul 2020 at 10:00am
until 03 Jul 2020 at 11:00am

Solace in Nature | Thursdays 9.30am-10.00am

“We are taking our first steps into some difficult months. A serious threat to physical health for some, combined with social restrictions for all, presents challenges for mental health. It’s pleasing that the impact on mental wellbeing is being recognised and that nature can help – thankfully, nature can also help even if you can’t get out and about.”

(Professor Miles Richardson, on his Finding Nature blog.)

Connecting through nature and little conversations

While we are unable to bring people together on Dudley High Street, and while people in our networks are more likely to be ill or feel lonely, we are eager to create opportunities for small moments of connection online. Each Thursday morning during this lockdown and physical distancing period we invite you pop along to our Virtual High Street to share ways in which you’re finding solace nature or to hear inspiration from others.

Join in at bit.ly/dudleynature

See more at: doingindudley.net/solace-in-nature/

Regenerative Design | Wednesdays 9.30am-10.30am

Are you curious about, getting into, or experienced in practicing regenerative design / social permaculture or similar? We’d like to grow these design practices in Dudley.

We welcome people from Dudley and beyond to this online community of practice. We will support each other to explore and experiment with approaches, strategies, practices, tools and tactics that we can bring to our own lives and communities.

Join in at bit.ly/dudleydesign

Creative Conversations | Tuesdays 12.30pm-1.30pm

Join us on Dudley's Virtual High Street on Tuesday lunchtimes for conversations led by creatives from the Black Country and beyond.

5th May – Living Memory’s Geoff Broadway – register here

Celebrating different aspects of everyday life in the Black Country the Living Memory project team has been working across the area to celebrate different aspects of everyday life that have been captured through people’s own photographs.

The images hidden in our family albums, stored away in shoeboxes, and treasured in the collections of local enthusiasts can all offer rich perspectives on our rapidly changing society. These collections are increasingly vulnerable as technology transforms how we now take and preserve photographs.

12th May – Tom Hicks of Black Country Type – register here

Black Country Type is an ongoing photographic project. In this series of images he applies his unique aesthetic to the region, focusing on words, typography, handmade lettering and signs. He also photographs ‘types’ of architectural features, objects and the post-industrial landscape of the area.

Join Tom as he talks us through his techniques, how he works and how he discovers the spaces and places he captures.

19th May – Collage artist Mark Murphy – register here

Mark is a Graphic Designer who runs his own independent studio, surely creative design. Alongside design work during the past seven years he has enjoyed setting himself the challenge of making work in a purely analogue way. Seeking out weird and wonderful print from the last 60 years Mark creates both analogue and digital collages that play with graphic composition, juxtaposition, space, scale and surrealism. Sometimes abstract, sometimes figurative, often humorous.

Recently Mark took part in Multistory’s BLAST! Festival presenting some stunning collage work in largescale both as physical paste-ups and projections.

Mark will share his recent work and techniques.

Serendipitea | Mondays 3.00pm-4.00pm

You never know who you might bump into on the High Street. The same goes for our Virtual High Street. This is an opportunity for connection and serendipitous encounters over a cuppa* while we are cooped up at home. Meet doers, creatives and curious thinkers from Dudley and beyond.

*Bring your own tea!

Join us at bit.ly/dudleyserendipitea

Visit us on the Virtual High Street!

Doing in Dudley challenges how we think about, experience and use our High Street. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have created a Virtual High Street so that we can continue to support connection, creativity and ways of spreading kindness.

Come and visit us on the Virtual High Street

Everyone is welcome.

Whether you are local to Dudley or from far away, an amazing advantage of the Virtual High Street offers is zero travel time!

Our Virtual High Street is has plenty of benches where you can rest and simply watch and listen to Virtual High Street life; don’t feel you have to join in the conversations if you would simply like to hear voices.

Activities on the Virtual High Street are joined via Zoom, a video and audio communications tool. You can use Zoom on a computer, tablet or phone. Download the Zoom app if you wish, or just click on our links to visit from your web browser.

If you’re new to Zoom, aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to a conversation and our Tour Guide can show you around. There will always be a Tour Guide on the Virtual High Street, just let us know if you need help with the tech.

We've planned a few activities through the week. The links stay the same each week. Check out doingindudley.net for an up to date listing of activities and links to join.

Origami Basics | Trade School Dudley

Learn the Japanese art of paper folding (orgami) with Sue. In this class you will be introduced to basic folds and leave with at least one paper creation. Complete beginners and learners with some experience are very welcome.

About the teacher: Sue Bloomer

Sue lives in Halesowen and works in social prescribing. She is artistic and creative and loves saving unloved items from being thrown away.

Sign up for this class

Barter list:

Please bring one of the following in return for this class:

  • A piece of fruit
  • A nice stone
  • A ball of wool
  • Your favourite vegetarian or vegan recipe
  • An offer to teach a Trade School class yourself
Trade School is open to all

Trade School is open to everyone, if you would like to bring children or babies with you just let us know when you sign up. They are welcome to join in the class, or simply be with you while you learn and they play, read or rest.

Trade School is great way of sharing skills and talents. Anyone can teach something they are skilled at, or passionate about. Learners ‘pay’ for class with a small barter item. Or you can offer to share your skills by teaching a Trade School Dudley class later in the year.
When
14 Apr 2020 at 2:00pm
until 14 Apr 2020 at 3:00pm

A Beginners Guide to Animation | Trade School Dudley

This class is for people with an interest in the medium of animation from cartoons to full feature films. During this class Dan will guide you through the 12 Principles of Animation and how they work.

The session will also cover:

  • Basic Cinematography
  • How to get inspired
  • What films to reference
  • What books to read
  • What software to use
Dan hopes to give any aspiring animator a starting point for their creativity and hopefully help people who share a passion for the art form a chance to collaborate and discuss the medium.

About the teacher: Daniel Crew

Dan is a Freelance digital artist who specialises in 2D digital animation. He studied MA digital animation at Hertfordshire University and has since directed and produced several animated projects for clients in the UK.

Dan is currently working as a graphics designer for an eCommerce design company in Brierley Hill whilst producing animated music videos on the side for UK bands. Dan has a great passion for the medium and always love an excuse to watch and discuss it with others. He can often be found around Dudley scribbling ideas in his sketchbook or working on my laptop.

Sign up for this class

Barter list:

Please bring one of the following in return for this class:

  • Stationery (pens, pencils etc. anything for experimenting with in a sketchbook)
  • Bottled beer
  • Transformers toys
  • Tips on film knowledge or tutorials (especially 3D software)
  • An offer to teach a Trade School class yourself
Trade School is open to all

Trade School is open to everyone, if you would like to bring children or babies with you just let us know when you sign up. They are welcome to join in the class, or simply be with you while you learn and they play, read or rest.

Trade School is great way of sharing skills and talents. Anyone can teach something they are skilled at, or passionate about. Learners ‘pay’ for class with a small barter item. Or you can offer to share your skills by teaching a Trade School Dudley class later in the year.
When
02 May 2020 at 11:00am
until 02 May 2020 at 3:00pm

William Morris in the 21st Century | Trade School Dudley

William Morris was

  • a poet and novelist

  • a designer

  • a craftsman

  • an environmentalist

  • a printer of fine books

  • a socialist
How is his work relevant today?

Lynda will lead an exploration around this question and bring William Morris publications for you to look at.

About the teacher: Lynda Prescott



Lynda has worked in adult and higher education for many years, and has been a member of the William Morris Society for almost as long. Since she retired a year ago she has finally had time to read more about Morris, and continues to be amazed by his many-faceted work.

Barter list

Please bring one of the following in return for this class:

  • Seeds (any kind)

  • Pad of post-it notes (any size)

  • Camomile tea-bags

  • Clean empty jam-jar with lid

  • Plastic curtain hooks

  • An offer to teach a Trade School class yourself

Sign up for this class

Trade School is open to all

Trade School is open to everyone, if you would like to bring children or babies with you just let us know when you sign up. They are welcome to join in the class, or simply be with you while you learn and they play, read or rest.

Trade School is great way of sharing skills and talents. Anyone can teach something they are skilled at, or passionate about. Learners ‘pay’ for class with a small barter item. Or you can offer to share your skills by teaching a Trade School Dudley class later in the year.
When
30 Mar 2020 at 1:30pm
until 30 Mar 2020 at 3:00pm

Dazed by Design | Trade School Dudley

Helena will introduce you to the basics of design tools you can use on your computer or tablet, such as Canva and InDesign. During the class you could create a poster or visual assets for sharing on social media. The class will include an exploration of free and subscription tools.

Note: Please bring your own laptop or tablet, and download a free trial of InDesign a day or so before the class if you’d like to explore it. Please also come with an idea of something you’d like to create in the class, such as a poster.

About the teacher: Helena Norman

Helena is a communications officer at Dudley CVS, with a background in design and storytelling. She supports local community groups and charities with their communications. Out of work you are likely to find Helena in her garden watching the birds, or in her shed dreaming up creative projects.

Barter list

Please bring one of the following information Helena in return for her class:

  • Funky stationery

  • Fabric scraps

  • Craft materials

  • A house plant

  • A skill swap (show Helena how to make something interesting)

  • An offer to teach a Trade School class yourself
Places are limited, please sign up at

Sign up for this class

Trade School is open to all

Trade School is open to everyone, if you would like to bring children or babies with you just let us know when you sign up. They are welcome to join in the class, or simply be with you while you learn and they play, read or rest.

Trade School is great way of sharing skills and talents. Anyone can teach something they are skilled at, or passionate about. Learners ‘pay’ for class with a small barter item. Or you can offer to share your skills by teaching a Trade School Dudley class later in the year.
When
30 Mar 2020 at 10:30am
until 30 Mar 2020 at 12:30pm