FUNDED ADULT LEARNING COURSES
Join our creative fully-funded courses!
For Lambeth residents who are 19+, unemployed and looking for work or low-waged. Please see below for full eligibility requirements.
Hosted at Photofusion in the heart of Brixton & at 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning located in Herne Hill.
In May 2026 we will deliver the following creative adult learning courses:
Step Up Beginner’s Photography - hosted by Photofusion
Beginner’s Ceramics - hosted by 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning
Collage, Memories and Mindfulness Art - hosted by 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning
We’d love to hear from you! You can fill out the form below at any time of the year to let us know you're interested. Someone from our team will get in touch to confirm your eligibility and if it’s a good fit, we’ll invite you to enrol and join our creative community.
Have questions?
Contact: Steff@photofusion.org or Kareen@198.org.uk
Image ©Jadine Wells
Step Up Photography Beginner’s Course
Photofusion’s Step Up Photography course allows learners to take part in practical workshops and mentoring to develop new skills whilst networking with peers and invited industry professionals.
Our brilliant course is designed to be hands-on and beginner-friendly. We cover the essentials of photography, led by expert tutors and it takes place at Photofusion, in the heart of Brixton. You will use our cameras, unless you have your own, and NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. We support you to learn from scratch.
We will cover:
Digital Camera techniques
Smartphone photography
Studio lighting setups
Analogue photography (film camera), including film processing and darkroom printing
Digital post-production editing
Image ©Jadine Wells
Eligibility
Our unaccredited courses are designed for Lambeth residents who are 19+, unemployed and looking for work or earning below London Living Wage, outside of formal education or apprentice schemes with qualifications below GCSE.
If you have GCSE or higher qualifications, to be eligible for the course you must meet one of our priority groups below:
Disability or learning difficulty, Mental health difficulty, Care leaver, Carer of adult dependants, Homeless or in temporary accommodation, Lone parent, Somali, Latin American (Spanish or Portuguese speaking).
Image ©Jadine Wells
Our Alumni - Eve
Photofusion’s course came at the perfect time. I’d just got a digital camera, but was desperate to go back to the basics of photography, and also learn some new skills. I was lucky enough to even make some new friends!
During the 6 weeks, we went right back to the basics of photography. Learning the exposure triangle, becoming familiar with composition, and were introduced to many new photographers and their works. I gained so much inspiration from learning about different styles of photography, and looking at different bodies of work.
I was consistently challenged by Ramona and Steff to step outside of what I was comfortable with (portraits) and to discover new ways of seeing the world to develop my process and hone my composition skills. I learned that I actually quite like architectural photography and looking at liminal/empty spaces!
Image ©Eve de Leon Allen
Our Alumni - Marlowe
I gained a lot more confidence in calling myself a photographer, finding more of a desire to take photos with a style that I really enjoy seeking out in the world.
I also invested in a film camera to continue my photographic practice. The LAL course gave me an insight into what I want to be doing more of, and I am very grateful to have been a part of it.
The camaraderie experienced in the communal setting was also heavily appreciated. Everyone – including the tutors, were very kind, patient, and supportive.
Image ©Marlowe Campbell
Our Alumni
In 2023 and 2024 we showcased our LAL current learners and alumni in an exhibition to celebrate the wonderful work produced during and after the course.
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Our Funders and Partners
The programme is funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and quality-assured by Lambeth Council’s Adult Learning Service. We are proud to be a trusted provider for Lambeth Council’s Adult Learning Programme (LAL), offering entry-level creative courses designed to support and inspire learners within our local community. In April 2025, LAL received a ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted, recognising the programme's commitment to quality education and positive learner outcomes.
Case Study Text from Lambeth Council's Growth Plan 2025 - People, Place, Purpose
198 Contemporary Arts and Learning and Photofusion, based respectively in Herne Hill and Brixton, exemplify how Adult and Community Learning can unlock potential and move people towards participating in good work. They are committed to diversity in the arts, providing young people, under-represented adults and people managing mental ill health difficulties with the opportunity to appreciate arts, develop their work and find employment in the creative industries.
Lambeth Adult and Community Learning commissioned the consortium to deliver a highly successful Step Up programme focusing on video, art and design and photography, including targeted opportunities for learners with Special Educational Need and Disabilities (SEND) and people from the LGBTQIA+ community. Of the 99 people who took part, 72 were women, 55 were Black Asian, or Multi-Ethnic backgrounds and 42 had a learning difficulty or disability/SEND.
Image ©Jadine Wells
