A GROUP of friends from Bournemouth are touring the UK in the hope of being taught a lesson in each county.

Nick Street, Alice Albery and Matthew Bowen, all in their late 20s, are looking to kick off their challenge, called Teach Us, on the south coast and are calling on skilled people to come forward and make themselves known.

Whether the skill is wood turning, cake decorating, dressmaking, knot tying, or a language, the trio would like to learn about it.

For every county in which they receive a lesson, they have pledged to donate £10 to the Alzheimer’s Society. They have chosen to support the charity because learning new skills and keeping the brain active has been proven to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, and the friends have all had relatives who have suffered from the disease.

Nick said: “When you look at our parents’ or grandparents’ generation, they were expected to have a broad skill set. Our generation, however, has been pushed to learn skills only to pass exams or for career progression, and learning skills for jobs doesn’t necessarily create well-balanced individuals.

“It is our view that learning extra-curricular skills can be a release from the stresses of everyday life and lead to confidence, happiness, and personal progression. It’s also a great way to meet new friends.

“It’s our belief that you see the best side of people when they’re sharing something they’re passionate about,” he added.

Alice said the group had witnessed themselves the “devastating” effect Alzheimer’s or dementia can have on a person’s life, adding it would be “great to raise money for an amazing cause that’s close to our hearts”.

Matthew said: “The thing that excites me the most about completing this challenge is the personal interaction, taking time to really get to know people and understanding their passions.”

He continued: “I feel there’s so much value in learning skills face-to-face and fear a day when we become completely reliant on the internet to teach us everything and get us out of sticky situations. A more skilled world is a better one.”

To teach Nick, Alice and Matthew a skill, sign up at teach-us.uk. Alternatively, contact hello@teach-us.uk, or call Matthew on 07990010164.