Unlock Your Confidence: The Best DIY Courses for Women Near You

Unlock Your Confidence: The Best DIY Courses for Women Near You

by | Jun 28, 2025 | Blog Posts

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get practical, you’re in the right place. Whether you want to put up shelves, fix a leaky tap, master power tools, or simply try something new, there are fantastic DIY courses for women near you; right here in the UK. These hands-on classes are all about building confidence, learning real skills, and connecting with supportive, like-minded women. You don’t need any experience, just a bit of curiosity and the willingness to have a go!

Why Take a DIY Course?

Joining a DIY course is about so much more than learning to use a drill or hang a picture straight (though you’ll do that too!). Here’s what you’ll really gain:

Confidence that lasts: There’s nothing like the feeling of fixing something yourself. Each new skill you learn makes the next one feel that bit easier.

Creativity and stress relief: Getting stuck into a project is a brilliant way to unwind and express yourself. (and let’s be honest, hitting things with hammers is a marvellous stress-relief)

Problem-solving skills: DIY is all about finding solutions, thinking on your feet, and celebrating those “I did that!” moments.

A supportive community: DIY courses should be friendly, relaxed, and judgement-free. You’ll meet other women who are just as keen to learn as you are.

Practical know-how: From basic repairs to bigger projects, you’ll gain skills that save you money and make you more independent at home.

How to Choose the Right DIY Course for You

There are more and more DIY courses for women near you, so think about what you’d most like to achieve. Are you a total beginner, or looking to take your skills up a notch? Do you want to focus on plumbing, power tools, decorating—or just get a solid foundation in all things DIY?

Skill level: If you’re starting from scratch, look for beginner-friendly courses with lots of hands-on practice.

Format: Some people love the buzz of a face-to-face workshop, while others prefer learning at home or online. Pick what works for your lifestyle.

Atmosphere: The best courses (like ours at bePractical DIY in Bristol!) are supportive, small-group, and designed to make you feel comfortable asking questions and having a go.

Top UK DIY Course Providers for Women

Here’s a quick round-up of some brilliant places offering DIY courses for women near you:

bePractical DIY (Bristol)

That’s us! We specialise in DIY, Power Tool, and Plumbing courses for women at all levels. Our mission is to create a safe, welcoming space where women can build practical skills, ask questions, and leave feeling genuinely confident. We also run women-only DIY Clubs in the evenings, and offer back-to-back courses on Fridays and Saturdays for those travelling from further afield. If you’re looking for DIY courses for women near Bristol—or want a full day of learning and laughs—you’ll fit right in.

DIY Courses for Women: bePractical DIY

Touchwood South West (North Devon)

Run by the inspiring Astrid Arnold, Touchwood South West offers a range of DIY and construction courses for women. Their ethos is all about empowerment and normalising practical skills for everyone.

DIY Courses for Women: Touchwood South West

The Makershed ( Bristol)

Our neighbours in Bristol, who offer a range of Woodwork and Furniture-making. Although they don’t run courses exclusively for women, Makershed is female-owned and is an extremely welcoming and friendly space for hands-on practical learning. 

DIY Courses for Women: The Makershed

DIY for Women (Cardigan, West Wales) 

From one-day basics to immersive weekend workshops, these courses cover everything from tool skills to building garden cabins. Perfect if you’re near Cardigan and want to build confidence fast.

Scouse Girl Timber (Liverpool)

A friendly half-day masterclass for women, focusing on the basics of hand and power tools in a supportive group.

DIY Courses for women: ScouseGirlsTimber

The Goodlife Centre (London)

Beginner-friendly DIY classes for homeowners and tenants, with plenty of hands-on practice and all materials provided.

DIY Courses for Womer: The Good Life Centre

Ash & Co (Hampshire)

Not exclusively for women, but their DIY Beginners courses are very welcoming and practical.

DIY Courses for Women: Ash & Co

The DIY School (Manchester)

Have delivered a range for DIY Courses in Stockport for some time, and have recently launched women-only DIY courses, covering everything from decorating to tiling and plastering.

DIY Courses for Women: The DIY School

Real Stories: Women Who’ve Gained DIY Confidence

The impact of DIY courses for women goes way beyond the classroom. Women from all walks of life have discovered new passions, saved money, and even started their own businesses after learning the basics. Whether it’s finally tackling that home project, helping out friends and family, or just feeling more independent, the confidence boost is real, and it lasts.

Take Mary, for example. After years of living alone following her divorce, she was confident in so many areas of her life, except DIY. Her ex-husband had always insisted that using a drill was “too difficult” and never let her have a go. When Mary signed up for a DIY course with a friend, it was a total game-changer. She found the experience so empowering that the very next day, she bought herself a drill, stocked up on wall plugs and screws, and started putting up hanging baskets in her garden, pictures on her walls, and shelves in her bedroom. Since then, she hasn’t looked back. Mary has joined several more courses, learned to use all sorts of power tools, and is now confidently tackling bigger projects around her home.

 

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your DIY Course

Set a clear goal: Whether it’s learning to use a drill or finishing a specific project, knowing what you want to achieve keeps you motivated.

Create a workspace: Even a small, tidy corner will make practising at home much easier.

Be patient with yourself: Mistakes are part of learning—ask questions, try again, and celebrate every win.

Stay connected: Join course WhatsApp groups or online forums to keep sharing tips and encouragement.

Ready to Get Practical?

If you’re searching for “DIY courses for women near me,” you’ve already taken the first step. There’s a supportive community waiting to help you build skills, confidence, and friendships, right here in Bristol, across the UK, and beyond.
So, why wait? Book your spot, bring a friend, or come solo and meet new people. Your DIY journey starts now, and who knows where it’ll take you?


Happy DIYing!
Consumer Units. What you need to know.

Consumer Units. What you need to know.

by | Aug 24, 2024 | DIY Advice, DIY Electrical Advice, Practical DIY Advice

Consumer Units. What you need to know.

What is a Consumer Unit?

You might hear a Consumer Unit called different things: a Distribution Board, a Fuse Box—whatever. In the trade, it’s mostly called a Consumer Unit, or just CU for short, so let’s stick with that to keep it simple.

I’ll try not to bore you to sleep here, because this stuff matters, but I get it—electrics aren’t exactly thrilling.

No matter what you call it, a CU is what distributes electricity around your home. At its core, a CU should have a Main Switch, which lets you shut everything off if needed. You’ll also find various fuses or MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) that control each circuit in your home.

If you’re lucky (and lots of people are these days), you might also have an RCD. If you’ve got two, great. If each circuit has its own, you’ve hit the jackpot.

Consumer Units come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and safety levels. We’ll run through some of them below.

Keep reading…

1. Consumer Unit with Ceramic Rewireable Fuses

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

These are old-school and, honestly, look pretty cool (if you’re into that sort of thing). But they belong in a museum, not in your home. If you have one, it’s a good sign that you haven’t had certified electrical work done in ages, so call an electrician.

What it does:

This CU protects against circuit overloads—the fuse wire inside will break if there’s too much demand.

What it doesn’t do:

It won’t protect you from getting shocked or seriously hurt if there’s an earth fault.

What’s an Earth Fault?

It’s when an electrical current tries to escape to the ground (Earth). It is often caused by cutting a cable (e.g. by drilling into it) or a sudden appliance fault.

2. Consumer Unit with Rewireable Fuses

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

These are still fairly common and do the basics.

What it does:

It stops you from overloading circuits by tripping a fuse. You can reset it by pressing a button or flipping a switch—way easier than the older CUs.

What it doesn’t do:

Like the older ones, it won’t protect against electrocution from an earth fault. If you’ve got one, you might need an upgrade if you’re getting electrical work done, since newer regulations prioritise safety and require RCDs.

What is an RCD?

An RCD (Residual Current Device) is a nifty safety gadget that trips when it detects an earth fault. Potentially it will save your life.

At its most basic level, it constantly monitors the current in your house. If it detects an imbalance, it assumes that the current has gone into something it shouldn’t have  – you. It  should trip within milliseconds. This will save your life.

3. Consumer Unit with an RCD as Main Switch

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

This setup has an RCD that acts as the main switch. It’s better than nothing, but if there’s a fault on any circuit, the whole thing shuts down. Not ideal if you’re halfway through cooking dinner.

What it does:

It gives you some protection against earth faults, which is a step up from the older units.

4. Consumer Unit with Two/Dual RCDs

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

For a while, this was the go-to upgrade. These CUs usually have a plastic casing (newer ones are metal for better fire protection) and split your circuits into two groups, each with its own RCD.

What it does:
If one circuit trips an RCD, only half your house goes down. The other RCD keeps things running, which is more convenient but still a bit of a hassle.

You can find these CUs sold cheap in DIY stores because they don’t meet current regulations any more. Don’t be tempted—it’s not a bargain.

And you shouldn’t even be thinking abut carrying out that kind of electrical work anyway. 

5. Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

Consumer Unit with Individual RCBOs

This is what electricians install nowadays to meet the latest safety standards.

What it does:

This setup has a metal casing and a Main Switch, with each circuit controlled by its own RCBO (a combined fuse and RCD). If a fault occurs, only the affected circuit is shut down, so the rest of your home stays powered. It also likely includes a Surge Protection Device (SPD) to shield sensitive electronics like TVs and computers.

It’s more expensive but offers way better protection and convenience, especially in older homes where wiring can be dodgy.

Labelling

You’ll notice that labelling on CUs can be hit or miss. It’s really handy to know which fuse or RCBO controls which circuit, especially in an emergency.

If your CU isn’t well labelled, you can fix that yourself in about an hour. Grab some clean labels and a fine-tip pen. Go through each MCB one by one—switch it off and see what stops working. Jot down what each circuit controls and label accordingly.

Keep a record of this info near the CU; it could save you a lot of hassle (or even your life) later.
Plus, it’ll make things easier for any electrician working in your home.

If you have issues with your RCD not resetting after it has tripped, check out our handy post: Help, I have no Power

Electrical Safe Zones

Electrical Safe Zones

by | Aug 20, 2024 | DIY Advice, DIY Electrical Advice, Practical DIY Advice

Electrical Safe Zones

One of the most common questions I hear on our DIY Workshops is: “How do I know if it’s safe to drill into a wall?” It’s a really sensible question, because drilling in the wrong place could mean hitting hidden electrical cables or pipes.

That’s why understanding Electrical Safe Zones (now called “Prescribed Cable Zones” in the UK) is essential before you pick up your drill.

What Are Electrical Safe Zones?

In the UK, Electrical Safe Zones are specific areas where electricians are allowed (and expected) to run cables behind your walls. The idea is to make wiring more predictable and keep everyone safer when drilling or nailing into walls. But “safe” can be a bit misleading—these zones are where you’re most likely to find cables!

The Main Electrical Safe Zones on Walls

Horizontally or Vertically from Electrical Accessories:

Cables can run in a straight line directly above or below, or to the left or right of, any socket, switch, light fitting, or fused spur.

For example, if you see a plug socket, imagine a line running straight up to the ceiling and straight down to the floor—cables could be anywhere along that path.

The same goes for a line running left and right, at the height of the socket or switch, all the way to the next wall or obstacle.

Image provided by Elecsa

Along the Top of the Wall:

There’s a 150mm (6 inch) wide zone along the top of the wall, right where it meets the ceiling. Cables can be run horizontally here.

Corners Where Two Walls Meet:

The 150mm zone also applies vertically at the corners of rooms, where two walls meet.

Important!

If your wall is less than 100mm (4 inches) thick, these wiring safe zones UK apply on both sides of the wall. Always check both rooms before drilling!

And don’t forget, Consumer Units (fuse boxes) often have lots of cables running up, down, and sideways around them. Be extra cautious in these areas.

If in Doubt, Be Safe!!

Turn off the Fusebox

Can I Trust the Safe Zones in My House?

Modern electrical work in the UK should stick to these prescribed zones for electrical cables. Electricians must follow strict rules, and any deviation should be recorded on your Electrical Certificate.

But older houses, or homes where DIY electrical work has been done, might have cables running anywhere: diagonally, in random places, or with sudden bends. If in doubt, always err on the side of caution.

Drilling Into Ceilings and Floors

Ceilings:

Cables should be run through the centre of joists, at least 50mm from the ceiling or floor surface. But in reality, especially in older homes, cables might be anywhere—including just above your plasterboard.

Floors:

The same rule applies: cables (and often pipes!) should be in the centre of joists, at least 50mm deep. But again, you can’t always rely on this—previous work may not have followed the rules.

Top Tip:

To find the location of Central Heating Pipes, stand on the floor with bare feet. You can feel the difference in temperature. Alternatively watch where your pets sleep – they can usually find the central heating pipes. 

Important!

If your wiring is old or your consumer unit doesn’t have a working RCD (Residual Current Device), be extra careful. If you’re ever unsure—turn off the consumer unit before you drill.

If in Doubt, Be Safe!!

Turn off the Fusebox

How to Drill Into a Wall Safely

Check for Sockets, Switches, and Light Fittings:
Avoid drilling directly above, below, or to the sides of these.

Use a Cable Detector:
These can be handy tools to help spot hidden cables and pipes. However, I am reluctant to use them, as they can give false positives and negatives, particularly the cheaper ones. 

Check Your Electrical Certificate:
If you’ve had recent work done, see if there are any notes about cable routes.

If in Doubt, Don’t Drill:
Or at the very least, switch off the power first.

Where Not to Drill in a Wall

Never drill directly in line with sockets, switches, or fuse boxes (vertically or horizontally).

Avoid the top 150mm of any wall, or the 150mm strip at the corner.

Be extra cautious in older homes or where DIY electrical work may have been done.

Still feeling unsure?

We cover all of this (and more) in our DIY Workshops, so you can learn how to drill into a wall safely and confidently—without nasty surprises. If you’re ever in doubt, get in touch or join a workshop for hands-on guidance.

If in Doubt, Be Safe!!

Turn off the Fusebox