Courses to build life skills

Learn life skills with the largest charitable provider of adult education in England and Scotland. Adult learning isn’t like school. Everyone belongs at the WEA. You’ll get meaningful, and tailored support, so you can reach your full potential. Our classes are friendly and fun, designed for adults like you. We won’t talk down to you and you’ll learn skills that you’ll use in everyday life.

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What are life skills?

Simply put, they are skills that make everyday life easier. Life skills include cooking, budgeting, communicating with others, health, well-being and managing emotions. Sometimes this means learning new things, and sometimes it means building on things you already know.

Sometimes adulting can be hard. These courses can help make it feel just that bit easier, make you feel more independent and empower you to face the future ahead.

Small steps to larger goals

You don’t have to have big goals in mind. Just take small steps towards boosting your skills and improving your wellbeing. Whether it is learning to budget better or cook healthier food. Building your confidence or gaining independence. There is a course for you.

When you study with us, you will:

  • Build your confidence
  • Learn new life skills
  • Improve your everyday life and wellbeing

Take a look at our great range of courses and start making a positive change today.

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Beginners British Sign Language (BSL)

If you have contact with deaf people in your day-to-day life, you may want to take a British Sign Language course. Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. This BSL course is suitable for you if you need to communicate with deaf people in a voluntary or community role, or simply through social interactions. This course is aimed at complete beginners. You will start from scratch to learn foundational BSL skills.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/06/2024 -
Mon 24/06/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Cleghorn
Course code:
Q00014698
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Multiply (West Sussex)

Does the thought of using computers, the internet and other digital technologies leave you feeling out of touch and overwhelmed? Have you considered gaining digital skills but didn't know where to turn? If the answer is a resounding 'yes!' this is the course for you. This course is for learners with little or no experience of digital technologies who want to develop skills to become 'digitally literate' in their everyday life and work. Our aim is to empower you to confidently engage with the digital world of laptops, smart phones, email, news, word processing social media, entertainment, shopping and more!

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/06/2024 -
Mon 24/06/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
HORSHAM JOBCENTRE (Horsham)
Marlborough House
50 East Street
Horsham
RH12 1HN
Tutor:
Gabriella Russo
Course code:
Q00015561
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Meditation and Mindfulness

Leading a busy life leaves little room for calm and relaxation. This can make it hard for us to wind down and enjoy the present. But finding these moments of calm is essential for our emotional well-being and mental health. This meditation and mindfulness course is ideal if you want to learn to relax, be present, and alleviate stress in your life. Meditation courses teach us to recognise the importance of conscious thought in our everyday lives. Develop concentration strategies to help focus your mind. Understand the principles of mindfulness. Learn to block out intrusive thoughts and enjoy the present moment.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/06/2024 -
Tue 16/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
The Cornforth Partnership (Ferryhill)
68-70 High Street
West Cornforth
Ferryhill
DL17 9HS
Tutor:
Margaret Mordue
Course code:
Q00015214
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

Ways to Wellbeing: Gua Sha and Face Yoga for Beginners

Course overview Discover the wonderful world of Gua Sha and Face Yoga with this beginners course. It will help you to develop basic knowledge and skills in Gua Sha. Whether you have studied basic Gua Sha before or are completely new to it, You will find value in this beneficial course. Develop your facial massage technique that has several benefits for the face. The benefits include: · Improving the absorption of skincare products · Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles · Deep cleansing pores · Blood circulation · Exfoliation You do not need any special tools to attend, just yourself and some enthusiasm. Start your wellbeing journey today by registering for this course.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/06/2024 -
Tue 16/07/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Rowland Hill Children's Centre (London)
315 White Hart Lane
Tottenham
London
N17 7LT
Tutor:
Lisa Richards
Course code:
Q00015409
How you'll learn:
Online and in venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.90

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

Multiply: Managing Money

Empower yourself with practical skills to manage your money, make savvy shopping decisions, and master the art of budgeting with our Money Management Essentials course. Explore everyday scenarios like comparing prices, optimizing transportation costs, and meal planning, gaining insights to navigate personal finance confidently. With interactive lessons, practical exercises, and flexible learning, this short course is tailored for beginners and those seeking to refine their financial literacy. Join us on the path to financial empowerment and take control of your financial future today!

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/06/2024 -
Wed 25/09/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
13 sessions
Location:
St Pauls Learning Centre (Bristol)
94 Grosvenor Road
St Pauls
Bristol
BS2 8XJ
Tutor:
Taona Makunde
Course code:
Q00015463
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Personal Development: Public Speaking

This eight week course is a public speaking course, where you will learn about the fundamentals of public speaking and be recording speaking about a subject that you are passionate about to a peer. Then listening to it and deciding how you could improve your public speaking. You will be guided by our expert tutor who will offer advice and techniques; all of which are designed to improve your delivery when addressing more than one person. All steps towards public speaking will be applauded and celebrated as you learn with others on a course designed to help you present yourself with an air confidence, panache and professionalism.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/06/2024 -
Tue 16/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Kettering Community Unit
51 Gold Street
Kettering
NN16 8JB
Tutor:
Karren Bennett
Course code:
Q00013358
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
1 place remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

Makaton

Ever heard of Makaton? It's a unique language programme, and over 100,000 people are using it to communicate in the UK today. It combines symbols, signs, and speech to make conversation easier for people who have communication difficulties. This Makaton course is ideal for you if you want to learn an inclusive communication tool. It can help you interact with people who have speech, hearing, or learning difficulties. This Makaton sign language course covers the essentials of hand signals, fingerspelling, and signing. Learn to introduce yourself. Develop knowledge to be able to sign about basic topics such as numbers and colours.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/06/2024 -
Wed 19/06/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00014360
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20

Healthy Living: Healthy new me

Stress, diet, exercise and how we feel about ourselves all have an impact on our health and well-being. But finding a way to a healthy new me can seem daunting and difficult and often it feels impossible to know where to start. In this four-week face to face course, we’ll look at some of the areas where we can make small, achievable and realistic changes to get us started on the journey. Expect a supportive, open class environment and some gentle challenges to help you move towards your goals. A happier, healthier new you could be just around the corner!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/06/2024 -
Wed 26/06/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
St Olave's Church Hall (York)
Marygate Lane
York
YO30 7BJ
Tutor:
Katherine Croft
Course code:
Q00014849
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Personal Development: Intermediate : Me, Myself and I

This course will further expand on elements and themes developed in the beginners: Me, Myself and I course. It will focus on looking at the individual and the holistic components of their life, including their history and how everything combines to make them who they are. Students will get an opportunity to further develop their person-centred plans and use them to look for opportunities to advance their lives in accordance with their plans. They will look at people in their lives who can help them achieve what they want to achieve and how they can be a part of other people's lives and help others.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/06/2024 -
Wed 17/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Aspire
2A Global House
Crofton Close
Lincoln
Midlands
LN3 4NT
Tutor:
Patrick O'Reilly
Course code:
Q00014918
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Ways to Wellbeing: Mental Well Being through Film

Watching films can be good for you. This course will focus on a different film for each session, and we will discuss it in terms of how the story that each film tells focuses on well-being and mindfulness. This course will be supported by discussion, conversation, and encouraging active participation. Each session will focus on a specific film which the students will be encouraged to watch before each class so that discussion about the film can be undertaken. Suggested films: The Wizard of Oz (1939), David Copperfield (2020), and The Truman Show (1999).

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/06/2024 -
Wed 19/06/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
James Clarke
Course code:
Q00014919
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20