Anyone mourn the passing of cheap municipal evening classes - all kinds of arts and crafts?

I used to go to those sorts of evening classes. I have done Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Violin making, Tai Chi, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Pottery and History. It was so nice to be with people doing something without the pressure to socialise. Apart from foreign languages, all those classes finished because funding was available only for accredited courses that led to a recognised qualification. Most people doing these classes would not have wanted to be put under pressure to gain a qualification. People enjoyed coming together to share an experience of making something or doing something for themselves.

It’s a sad world that can’t recognise the huge value of these classes for many people who mightn’t see anybody else for the majority of the time. Perhaps government should be looking at how these classes can make a positive contribution to people’s mental health rather than being preoccupied with what people should be doing with their enforced qualifications. 

All those teaching those sort of things had to have a teaching qualiication and then do lesson plans and all that admin stuff, so they stopped because instead of just being a taster course or sharing something you enjoy it all became a massive pain in the bum

Exactly! It sapped the joy all round, but who cares about that? The courses were a waste of money, at least according to the powers that be. 

Exactly! It sapped the joy all round, but who cares about that? The courses were a waste of money, at least according to the powers that be.