About Volunteering

The WEA is a democratically run membership organisation

Volunteers help to organiseand deliver the WEA courses in Yorkshire & Humber Region through our branches. Some are former WEA students while others have been active in education or voluntary organisations in other ways. We’re always looking for new volunteers to help develop our course provision and our branches across the region. 

Our newest branch was established in the 2005-06 academic year in a reorganised and revitalised Sheffield Branch.

Some volunteers act as Voluntary Education Advisers, working alongside students who wish to have additional support with their learning.

Volunteers also form the region’s governance. Formally, the staff teams implement policy decisions made at a regional level by the Regional Committee of voluntary members. The Regional Committee is represented at a national level on the Association Committee. (See the Governance section in the About us area of the website for more details.)

Although some students become active volunteers, there is no obligation or expectation, so don’t worry about being pushed into devoting time to the WEA. Volunteering is entirely a matter of choice. Many people attend courses in the same way that they take up adult education opportunities offered by colleges or local authorities.