Chance to win £250! New year, new skill? How about first aid? Share your thoughts with the British Red Cross NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been asked by the British Red Cross to find out - in general - what new skills you're planning to learn or find out about in 2015?

They say "the new year is a time for thinking about learning something new in the year ahead. British Red Cross would like all mumsnetters to equip themselves with a new life skill in 2015 by learning first aid for baby and child - on a course, online or by downloading the free Baby and Child First Aid app".

So, what new skills are you planning to try and learn this year? If it's first aid, how will you learn this? How do you feel about learning new skills these days? What about your partner? How do you find the time to learn new things as you get older? Do you think it's important to do this?

If you're keen on finding out about learning some first aid skills - do check out the resources from the British Red Cross:

Courses info
Online materials
Free App

And let us know on this thread what you think.

Share your thoughts on learning new skills generally and any feedback on the British Red Cross first aid for baby and child info on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £250 John Lewis voucher.

Please add your comment by 26 January 2015. Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

I am always up for learning new skills but find £££ an issue.

If a course costs money, I can't bring myself to spend if when its money that I could be using to do things with Dd.

I do use Duolingo to brush up on my language skills though. Fab and free!

learning basic choking life saving skills

It would be really helpful if there was a first aid course with a crèche available.

All skills are useful even if you never use it as it teaches you how best to learn and improve.

I would love to learn first aid, just the cost and the time that you need to attend not sure where to start (plus i'm quite shy around new people)

I hadn't thought about using an app like this before I saw this on mn. It's a great idea! I did training in cpr a few years back when I was a full time carer, but I think that without a refresher at least every 1-2 years you can easily lose those skills. I'll be contacting my local children's centre to see what courses they are running as it's never too late to (re)learn these skills!

Actually I'm planning to go on a first aid for children and babies course. I trained as a first aider a few years ago but I haven't used it, so I lost it! The app is good in the meantime.

I've recently been on loads of benefits training at work (financial inclusion worker) - I hope to secure some debt advice training this year asap! I have had First Aid training through work in the past, but now the advice is that we refer to specialist services & don't undertake this ourselves because of potential repercussions. I think it's a very useful set of skills to have though, particularly with a young child. I think the new add with the jelly baby & small toys in is a great way to communicate safety advice re: children choking & would like to see more of these x

I would love to learn a new language x

I love your courses, and they make me confident in stressful illness situations. In general, i'm happy with my first aid ability but would love to learn to ski.

I will be revisiting previous skills this year (dance, art, ice-skating).

I attended the Red Cross first aid course for babies and children and will use the app as a refresher.

I think it's time to learn to drive.

I would like to learn first aid as I think with young children its is so important but I am struggling to find the time especially as I do not have a smart phone to down load the app

The app is really useful and easy to use. I have done the 3 day St Johns Ambulance first aid course in the past which has now lapsed so I'd like to do a refresher and also a baby an infant specific course too now that I'm expecting. My husband wants to do this too.

As for learning other new skills? I'm currently learning Italian by method of CD which is going really well, though who knows when I'm going toget chance to use this now! Just hoping that I can still find time to squeeze in some 'me' time once our precious little one arrives!

Such an important app. Everyone should get it

going to do a first aid course through work

I did the NCT baby and child first aid course when my baby son passed away and i was expecting again we were helped by the CONI project and it gave me the confidence i needed if anything like that would happen ever again i would be able to respond, I do think it should be something that every new parent should learn,My kids all know basic first aid too its some thing that kids should know early on.
As for this year i am doing a counselling course and aiming to get back driving after mt tia

I want to learn more about my garden this year.

I love learning new things, the problem is just finding the time - reminders/notifications help. I've signed up for lots of online courses this year, they're each a few hours a week for 3 or 4 weeks so should hopefully be able to fit them in OK.

I would love to learn new skills - but there is always so little time to do this! I would like to take a first aid course if it were available!

We actually took an NCT baby first aid course with the British Red Cross yesterday. Highly recommended. Boosted our confidence for emergency situations.

The British Red Cross First Aid App is brilliant! The app has so much information and is really useful. Through our local club, we are putting together a first aid course for later in the year. I will pass on the details of the app to my friends.

I am going to brush up my first aid skills. I had training when I was a teacher, but feel I need to revisit it as I am looking after my granddaughter sometimes in the week.

The app is excellent, I have done a couple of First Aid courses in years gone by but could do with an update.
I would like to learn to speak my native language in 2015 (Welsh), my children know more than I do having been in Welsh schools, but I would like to be able to help with homework etc and I don't understand half of it!

I haven't done any first aid training since I was a cub scout. Definitely time for a refresher course

It's definitely great to keeping learning through life no matter how old you are. This is something I have come to appreciate more as the years go on. There are lots of things I'd love to learn at a number of scales. My ambition is to change careers and become a midwife - something I'm already trying to get a head start on before studying commences in a few years time. I'm trying to read a book I've bought on biology to get my mind in the right place and gain a good level of understanding to put me in a good position before I start applying - I didn't get any GCSEs in biology or A-levels so really am started from the beginning! It's a while off in life yet, but it should keep me interested and with our first baby on the way it won't be something I'll be able to give a lot of time to for a while to come!

On a smaller scale I'd love to learn how to use a sewing machine so I can do some nice homemade crafts for the house! I think I'd get a great sense of fulfilment knowing I'd produced something. It could save money too and be nice to get to a point where I can make things for other people too as gifts! Also, how handy will it be when the kids start needing costumes making for school and other school projects?!

At the top of my list though is first aid for babies - so important I think - it could save your child's life. I'm already paranoid ahead of having our baby about the things that could go wrong and it would awful if I couldn't avoid or rectify a situation simply because I hadn't equipped myself with the right knowledge and skills!

I've seen NCN run courses locally which I think I'll look into but not really given it too much thought just yet as still a bit of time before I'm due. But will definitely check out some of the resources from British Red Cross!