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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Holistic Therapy: Introduction to Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils taken from plants to improve quality of life and reduce stress and anxiety. It can be used alongside traditional medicine, and this is why it is known as a complimentary medicine. This course will provide you with a solid foundation in the history, principles and practical applications of aromatherapy and has been designed to introduce you to the most commonly used essential oils: giving advice, tips, and techniques on how aromatherapy oils can be used safely at home to help enhance overall wellbeing.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 15/08/2024 -
Thu 15/08/2024
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017138
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £21.00

Healthy Living: Creativity to Manage Stress

Numerous studies have shown that creative activities, such as art, writing and music, can help reduce and even prevent stress. You may find that, after a stressful day, enjoying a hobby can help you to de-stress and even give you an energy boost. This friendly course will help you that being creative may also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression and can help you to express or manage your emotions in a positive and productive way. Especially when those feelings are difficult to put into words. This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore new and uplifting creative activities, and also give you the chance to socialise and connect with others who share the same interest. If you like the idea of making art in a calm and friendly environment, whilst also taking part in group activities and meeting new people, this is the right course for you!

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 22/08/2024 -
Thu 24/10/2024
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017140
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £210.00

Personal Development: Everyday Life Skills - Practical Skills

This supportive course offers you the opportunity to explore adaptive and positive behaviour to help you deal more effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. The course will cover 3 main areas, including knowledge, attitude, and skills. It will enable you to consider ways to expand your confidence and personal development, including life skills to help promote mental well-being and competence when managing and coping with the realities of life. It will help you to identify available opportunities and prepare to face possible threats. The course will cover the context of health and social events, including coping without the use of unhealthy props; communicating with others in the public sphere; and how to promote healthy relationships.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 07/01/2025 -
Tue 11/02/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017749
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £126.00

Ways to Wellbeing: 5 Ways to Wellbeing

On this course you will learn about the 5 ways to wellbeing and how we can embed them in our daily lives.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 27/02/2025
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:
Q00009860
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £117.60

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:
£15

Healthy Lifestyle: 5 Ways to Wellbeing

This course will enable you to consider your mental health and ways to stabilise and self-regulate your wellbeing. You will learn about different strategies that can help you re-balance and boost your self-esteem through positive action. The 5 ways to wellbeing is a national programme, which suggests there are five key things you can do each day to improve your overall mental and physical health. These include being more active, practising mindfulness, learning new things, and giving back to others. This course encourages connection with others and how to talk and reflect on ways to have a happier and healthier life!

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 27/02/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017182
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £147.00

Personal Development: Everyday Life Skills - Interpersonal Skills

Have you always wanted to become more skilful when communicating with others? This course will help you to understand what is meant by interpersonal skills and how to be more effective when interacting with other people in a variety of situations. Every individual has a personal style and an interpersonal style. Some people are more successful than others at using interpersonal skills for specific, desired results. This course will offer you the opportunity to practice speaking in different life situations, helping you to gain confidence and be more prepared for the conversations you may find most challenging, including interviews and/or difficult conversations with the people who are close to you.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 25/02/2025 -
Tue 22/04/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017750
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £189.00

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

Healthy Lifestyles: Creative Journaling

This course will give you the opportunity to explore inner thoughts and emotions through creative journalling. Journalling can help you to focus your intentions, ease anxiety and identify the things you would like to change with purpose. Sometimes in life we can feel overwhelmed, and this can contribute to a lack of motivation. This is known as a mental block. Journaling has been proven to help individuals improve their mental health and work through difficult times. By sharing your Journal with the group, you will not be left alone to struggle with your thoughts and feelings in isolation.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 17/06/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017190
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £147.00

Healthy Lifestyle: Introduction to Stress Awareness

On this course you will be invited to think about the implications and affects that stress can have on both mental and physical health. Stress can lead to serious health problems if not recognised and dealt with in time. This course will offer you the opportunity to become more aware of what causes stress, the different types of stress and how to recognise the signs and symptoms associated with each type. You will learn about ways to prevent or reduce stress for yourself and others, considering diet, exercise and other simple preventative measures that you can put in place to help keep stress at bay!

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 24/06/2025 -
Tue 15/07/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017196
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00