WEA courses

Are you looking for functional skills English courses for free? You can boost your maths and English skills with a government-funded course at the WEA. If you are over 19 and don’t have an English GCSE at C or Grade 4, then you can study for free.  Not having a qualification in English can hold you back. In many cases, you will need it for apprenticeships or to get a job. Maybe you want to ace your GCSE retakes but the idea of going back to school fills you with dread. Or you want a level 2 qualification, but you don’t want to do GCSEs again. This is where the WEA comes in.  We’re not like a school or a college; we’re adult learning specialists. Our English functional skills classes help you build on the skills that you use every day. We make our courses fun and easy to learn.

Are you looking for functional skills maths courses for free?  You can boost your maths and maths skills with a government-funded course at the WEA. If you are over 19 and don’t have an English GCSE at C or Grade 4, then you can study for free.  Not having a qualification in maths can hold you back. In many cases, you will need it for apprenticeships or to get a job. Maybe you want to ace your GCSE retakes but the idea of going back to school fills you with dread. Or you want a level 2 qualification, but you don’t want to do GCSEs again. This is where the WEA comes in.  We’re not like a school or a college; we’re adult learning specialists. Our maths functional skills classes help you build on the skills that you use every day. We make our courses fun and easy to learn.

Confidence to Career is a four‑week programme designed to help learners build self-belief while developing essential employability skills. Through weekly two‑hour sessions, learners will explore personal strengths, overcome barriers, and develop positive communication techniques that enhance confidence in real-life situations. Alongside this, the course introduces practical tools for job searching, CV writing, interview skills, and workplace expectations. Interactive activities, group discussions, and reflective tasks ensure learners feel supported as they grow. By the end of the programme, learners will feel more empowered, more prepared, and more confident in taking their next steps towards employment success.

This ESOL course is designed to help learners develop basic English skills for the workplace. Through simple vocabulary, practical phrases, and everyday conversation practice, participants will gain confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English. The course focuses on common job-related scenarios such as interviews, workplace instructions, and customer interactions. No prior English knowledge is required. Learners will also explore cultural expectations in UK workplaces and build essential communication skills to support job seeking and employment success.

Confidence to Career is a four‑week programme designed to help learners build self-belief while developing essential employability skills. Through weekly two‑hour sessions, learners will explore personal strengths, overcome barriers, and develop positive communication techniques that enhance confidence in real-life situations. Alongside this, the course introduces practical tools for job searching, CV writing, interview skills, and workplace expectations. Interactive activities, group discussions, and reflective tasks ensure learners feel supported as they grow. By the end of the programme, learners will feel more empowered, more prepared, and more confident in taking their next steps towards employment success.

This course is designed for pre-entry ESOL learners who want to improve their English for work and job opportunities. You will learn useful words and phrases for the workplace, practise speaking and listening in work-related situations, and build confidence in reading and writing simple forms and instructions. The course focuses on practical communication skills such as introducing yourself, asking questions, and understanding basic job information. Activities are interactive and supportive, helping you take steps towards employment or volunteering. No previous experience is needed—just a willingness to learn. Join us to start building your language skills for work.

This beginner-level course introduces learners to the essential fastening techniques used in textile and fashion projects. Ideal for those new to sewing or looking to build core construction skills, the course focuses on understanding and applying three key types of closures: zips, buttons, and flaps. Students will learn how to prepare fabrics, mark placements, and use sewing tools confidently while practising a range of simple methods. The course covers inserting standard zips, sewing on buttons securely, creating buttonholes, and constructing basic flaps suitable for bags, cushions, and garments. Clear demonstrations and step-by-step guidance support learners through each technique, helping them build accuracy and good sewing habits from the start. Through hands-on practice, participants will produce a set of samples that demonstrate their developing skills, with opportunities to personalise details such as stitching, fabric choices, and finishing touches. The course emphasises building confidence, improving precision, and understanding how closures contribute to both function and design. By the end of the course, learners will have a strong foundation in using simple closures and the confidence to incorporate them into future sewing projects. This course is perfect for beginners who want to enhance their making skills and gain practical experience with essential textile techniques.

This advanced course is designed for experienced textile and fashion learners who want to push their creative practice by exploring sophisticated embellishment techniques. Focusing on both traditional and contemporary methods, the course teaches how to design, construct, and apply a wide range of decorative elements to enhance garments, accessories, or textile artworks. Learners will experiment with advanced surface-decoration processes such as beadwork, hand embroidery, appliqué, fabric manipulation, 3D textile structures, couture embellishment techniques, and mixed-media detailing. They will investigate how embellishments can elevate a design concept, add texture, create focal points, and communicate personal style. Students will work through idea development, sampling, and refinement, creating a series of high-quality embellishment tests before applying selected techniques to a final project. The course also explores professional considerations, including design cohesion, durability, placement, and how to integrate embellishment into finished pieces without overwhelming the form or construction. With tutor guidance, learners will develop their own creative direction while strengthening precision, craftsmanship, and problem-solving skills. By the end of the course, participants will have a collection of advanced embellishment samples and a fully embellished piece that showcases technical expertise and a strong design identity—ideal for portfolio building or progressing towards professional work.

This course is funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and is only available to residents living within the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority area. Communicating Confidently (2-Hour Online Taster) - Introduction to confident communication and its impact - Recognising personal communication strengths and challenges - Quick techniques to manage nerves and build confidence - Structuring clear and concise messages - The basics of active listening and effective responses - Using tone, body language, and presence in virtual settings - Introduction to assertive communication - Speaking up in meetings and group discussions - Practical exercises and live practice opportunities - Tips for applying confident communication in everyday situations

This course is designed for ESOL learners at Entry 1 who want to improve their English for work and employability. You will learn useful vocabulary and phrases for the workplace, practise speaking and listening in work-related situations, and build confidence in reading and writing simple job-related texts. The course focuses on practical communication skills such as introducing yourself, asking questions, and understanding basic job information. Activities are interactive and supportive, helping you take steps towards employment or volunteering. Join us to develop your language skills and gain confidence for work opportunities.