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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Healthy Living: Health and Wellbeing: Five Steps to Mental Wellbeing

Improve your mental health with our Healthy Living: Health and Wellbeing: Five Steps to Mental Wellbeing course. Learn practical strategies for boosting mental wellbeing through simple, effective lifestyle changes. Ideal for individuals looking to enhance their mental health and overall quality of life.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 27/02/2025 -
Thu 03/04/2025
Times:
1:15pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Rector's Way Allotments (Weston-super-Ma
Rectors Way
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 3NP
Tutor:
Matt Doolan
Course code:
Q00017825
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £56.70

Personal Development: Build Your Confidence (Women Only)

Designed for just women - this confidence building course is ideal for anyone wishing to learn new skills to improve their self-confidence and self-esteem. Whether you're aiming to boost your confidence in a professional environment, socially, or for personal growth, it will equip you with the necessary skills. You'll learn practical techniques that will elevate both your personal and professional life, allowing you to embark on a journey of empowerment.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 27/02/2025 -
Thu 27/03/2025
Location:
Somerstown Central Community Hub (Souths
Rivers Street
Somerstown
Southsea
PO5 4EY
Course code:
Q00011539
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Fitness and Exercise: Yoga to support a healthy digestive system

Discover the benefits of yoga for your digestive health with our Yoga to Support a Healthy Digestive System course. This class focuses on yoga practices designed to enhance digestion and alleviate digestive discomfort. Through a combination of gentle postures, breathwork, and relaxation techniques, you will learn methods to stimulate and support your digestive organs. Suitable for all levels, this course encourages mindful movement and listening to your body's needs. Experience a supportive environment where you can improve your digestive health, increase comfort, and enhance overall well-being through the practice of yoga.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 28/02/2025 -
Fri 04/04/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00018232
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Healthy Living: Mindful Relaxation to support work/life balance

Do you struggle to maintain a healthy work/life balance? This course focuses on mindful relaxation practices to support a better balance between professional and personal life. Stress and overwork can lead to burnout, but by incorporating relaxation techniques, you can find harmony and reduce stress. We will work on body awareness, mindful movements, and breathwork to help you unwind and rejuvenate. Each session concludes with a guided relaxation practice to enhance your work/life balance. Everyone can benefit from these practices to achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 28/02/2025 -
Fri 04/04/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018257
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Lip Reading

This course is designed to equip participants with essential lip-reading skills. You will learn to recognise common lip movements, apply practical strategies for daily communication, understand effective communication techniques, and explore technology solutions for emergency situations. Through hands-on exercises and online resources, you will develop the confidence to engage in conversations with ease.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 28/02/2025 -
Fri 04/04/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Shrewsbury LIbrary
Castle Gates
Shrewsbury
SY1 2AS
Tutor:
Alaina Allen Nnaji
Course code:
Q00020160
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics (Entry 3)

Take your maths skills to the next level to help you with work or study opportunities. Adult maths teaches you practical numeracy skills for everyday life. This entry 3 functional skills maths course offers a practical way to learn maths as an adult. Functional skills maths courses aren’t like studying maths at school. You’ll learn maths in context. Develop maths skills to face real-life situations such as organising your personal budget or applying discounts when shopping. This entry 3 functional maths course is right for you if you want to enhance your maths skills to work or study. It can help you learn essential maths skills employers look for. Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades A*-C, or 4-9. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/03/2025 -
Thu 15/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
27 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ekta Vishrolia
Course code:
Q00019218
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Personal Development: Beginners British Sign Language

We welcome you to join our friendly and engaging introduction to British Sign Language course at Hayle Community Centre, Hayle. British Sign Language (BSL) is a language used by D/deaf people to communicate using hand shapes, facial expressions, lip patterns, gestures, and body language. It’s an entirely different language to English. BSL is the preferred language of over 87,000 Deaf people in the UK for whom English may be second or third. This course is suitable for beginners

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/03/2025 -
Wed 23/04/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00012690
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Cooking Practical: Preparing for Level 2 Food Hygiene

Welcome to the Preparing for Level 2 Food Hygiene Course! This course will cover essential topics to prepare you for Level 2 certification. You will learn about food safety practices, hygiene regulations, and how to prevent contamination. Our tutor will guide you through proper food handling, storage, and cleaning techniques. By the end of the course, you will have a solid understanding of food safety principles and be ready to take your knowledge to the next level. Join us to ensure safe and hygienic food practices in any setting!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/03/2025 -
Wed 23/04/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Mount Pleasant School (Southampton)
Mount Pleasant Road
Newtown
Southampton
SO14 0WZ
Tutor:
Tracey Sweetman
Course code:
Q00017064
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Healthy Living; Lipreading and managing hearing loss

The act of looking is so closely bound up with the act of writing. Novels depend upon those moments when an author presses the pause button and allows their characters to just stop and look at something. This course will explore how photos, especially, can be used as a vital stimulus for creative writing. Over two days, you will explore the work of some of the world’s finest photographers, from Andre Kertesz to Garry Winogrand, all projected upon the screen. You will then be encouraged to look even closer and see where these images take your own writing. The course will also consider how established writers have engaged with the art of photography, from John Berger to Susan Sontag, Tony Harrison and Geoff Dyer. Most importantly, you will encourage you to find a way of using your own photos as a way of unlocking your own hidden powers of writing and observation. Come along and join our friendly lipreading group at The Centre in Newlyn. This class is suitable for all levels of lipreaders and is ideal for those recently experiencing hearing loss. Our experienced tutor will guide you through the basics of lipreading and show you how to practice your lipreading skills in everyday life. Research has shown that attending a lipreading class can give you greater: • Confidence to communicate with others • Control over your hearing loss, as you develop new communication skills • Independence, as you’re less reliant on others to help you follow conversation (Source RNID.org.uk) You will learn in a supportive environment alongside other learners who will be able to share their experiences of hearing loss and learn how to overcome them together

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 06/03/2025 -
Thu 10/04/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
The Centre, Newlyn (Penzance)
Chywoone Hill
Newlyn
Penzance
TR18 5AR
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00016904
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Healthy Lifestyle: Meditation and Mindfulness

This course encourages you to explore how mindful living can cultivate a new attitude towards open awareness and kindness. You will discover how to practise mindful self-compassion, learning how to focus your attention to whatever is happening in the present moment without judgment. This skill can help you to manage stress and difficult feelings. You will be guided through research-based practices, including simple meditation techniques, which have been proven to improve overall health and wellbeing. By training your brain to be mindful you will also experience better confidence and self-esteem.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 06/03/2025 -
Thu 24/04/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017185
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £168.00