Every course here is free. Practical skills that neighbours, friends and local customers will pay for, none of them needing a qualification or much kit, starting with the rules on tax, benefits and debt plans. Written for anyone who needs a bit more coming in, including people working their way out of debt.
The Rules First
What it costs to start, what to charge, and how tax, Universal Credit and any debt plan you're in treat the money. Do this before the first job.
Mending and Alterations
Hems, zips, buttons, patches and seams. Everyone has a pile of clothes that need ten minutes' work, and alterations shops charge for every one.
Sewing: A Practical Start
Complete beginner
Mend It: Patches and Repairs
Coming soon
Hems That Hold
Coming soon
Zips, Buttons and Fastenings
Coming soon
Odd Jobs Around the House
The small jobs people put off for years: a dripping tap, a wobbly hinge, a room that needs painting, knives that won't cut.
Home Repairs You Should Know
Complete beginner
Painting and Decorating: Do It Properly
Coming soon
How to Sharpen a Knife
Complete beginner
Gardens
Mowing, tidying, clearing and pruning. Steady seasonal work, often with the customer's own tools.
Garden Maintenance
Coming soon
Clear Your Garden
Coming soon
Pruning: Trees, Shrubs, and Roses
Beginner
Bikes
Punctures, brakes, gears and a safety check. A tune-up for the neighbours' bikes before summer is easy work with a few tools.
Make and Sell Food
Register, learn the hygiene rules, then bread and jam for a market stall or the neighbours.
Furniture
Re-cover a tired chair seat: for customers, or to sell on a charity-shop find.
A Better-Paid Job
Sometimes the biggest step up isn't a side income at all. Prepare for the interview that gets you there.
Ace the Job Interview
Coming soon