A council dubbed ‘Britain’s worst’ has been ridiculed for charging adults £15 to attend a course on how to ‘wear accessories’.
The three-hour course is run by Northamptonshire County Council’s adult learning department and promises to teach people how to ‘understand the impact of accessories’ and improve ‘body image’.
It also says the seminar will ‘identify what accessories would work best for you’ and ‘experiment with alternative approaches’.
A course sheet also tells students ‘be confident in how to accessories [sic] an outfit’.
Students will be given ‘practical demonstrations’ and PowerPoint lectures and group discussions on how to wear shoes, belts, bags, jewellery and scarves.
The course has been branded ‘a complete waste of money’ by local residents.
Mum-of-two Janet Wilson, 30, said: ‘I often take up an adult course every year to improve myself.
‘I’ve done sign language and creative writing in the past which were great but when I saw the council were teaching people how to wear shoes I was just flabbergasted.
‘Why on earth is this course, which doesn’t even sound like a fashion course, being run alongside other valuable courses.
‘If you need lessons on how to put on shoes and wear belts I think you’re probably beyond help.’
Sociology student Annabelle Wright, 22, from Northampton, added: ‘This course, which appears completely backed by the council, is a complete waste of money.
‘How patronising to be taught how to carry a handbag or even wear a belt.
‘If it was designed to help with preparing for job interviews then that’s fine but the course details says you’ll be taught basically how to carry a bag and tie your shoe laces.
‘What’s next? A course on how to switch on a light?’
The Tory-run council, which will be abolished next year, defended the course saying it was intended to be ‘fun’ but also designed to help people’s ‘body image’.
A a spokesman said: ‘Our adult learning service is self-financing and not subsidised by the county council and in addition learners pay tuition fees for courses and provide their own resources.
‘If there are insufficient numbers to finance the ‘How to Wear Accessories’ course, then it will not go ahead.
‘This course is designed to be a fun, sociable morning and one of a number of personal development classes we offer that aim to help people to build their confidence.
‘This can be particularly helpful for adults who are looking for work, to find out how to dress for interview or increase their own sense of wellbeing including a more positive body image.
‘In the past learners have also attended this type of course to seek advice on how to disguise scars or disabilities.’
The council was branded the UK’s ‘worst run local authority’ after overspending its 2017 budget by millions of pounds and banning all non-essential spending twice in 2018.
