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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Personal Development: Assertiveness skills for life

Build your confidence and assertiveness with our Personal Development: Assertiveness Skills for Life course. Learn techniques for effective communication and self-expression. Ideal for individuals looking to improve their interpersonal skills and confidence.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 06/11/2024 -
Wed 18/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
KCU Ltd at Fuller Church (Kettering)
51 Gold Street
Kettering
NN16 8JB
Tutor:
Linda Bennett
Course code:
Q00018539
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

Ways to Wellbeing

To support and improve wellbeing through creativity.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 06/11/2024 -
Wed 18/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Face of Beauty Training
66 Westoe Road
South Shields
NE33 4LU
Tutor:
Victoria Bould
Course code:
Q00019582
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

Lipreading and Managing Hearing Loss

Come along and join our friendly lipreading group in Hayle. 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 07/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00017041
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Managing Stress

Do you find it difficult to wind down? When we’re stressed it’s hard to feel calm and relaxed. But you don’t have to live with constant stress. There are simple techniques you can learn to manage it. This stress awareness course is helpful for anyone who wants to learn to alleviate stress. In this course we will learn how to identify stress risk factors, recognise the symptoms of stress, and apply techniques to reduce it. Depending on your needs, there are various study options after this course.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Location:
Alpha Omega Women Peace
Security Foundation
Unit 10
Coppicemere Drive
Crewe
CW1 6HY
Course code:
Q00016708
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

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

Personal Development: Healthy Family Food on a Budget

Cooking homemade food doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Learn how to feed the whole family with tasty and affordable meals in this cooking on a budget course. This is a cooking and personal finance course rolled into one. You’ll get practical budgeting tips you can apply in the kitchen. This course is ideal for you if you’d like to learn how to cook homemade meals on a reduced budget. Learn how to select nutritious ingredients to prepare wholesome meals without breaking the bank. Brainstorm recipe ideas with the class to make use of leftovers. Get tips on how to store food properly to avoid wastage. Learn how to save money when doing food shopping and other budgeting tips.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 19/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Clare House (SCUNTHORPE)
31 Wells Street
SCUNTHORPE
DN15 6HL
Tutor:
Amie-Alissa Watson
Course code:
Q00017967
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

Fitness and Exercise: Yoga to improve core strength

Would you like to improve your core strength? This yoga course will help you to identify and locate the muscles that form the core, and help you to understand that a stronger core stabilises the spine and improves our balance. You will practice a range of accessible postures that help to build core strength in a safe way and also improve core muscle flexibility. Each session will focus on warming up safely for posture practice and a balanced range of postures that help to build core strength and flexibility. You will learn how breathing influences the muscles of the core. Each session will end with a relaxation.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 11:45am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Kagyu Samye Dzong Scarborough
Londesborough Lodge
The Crescent
Scarborough
YO11 2PW
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018225
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to £44.10

Multiply: Everyday skills for life at Thornage Hall

This course, funded through Multiply in Norfolk, aims to empower individuals with essential everyday life skills. Participants will engage in practical sessions covering topics like budgeting, art, digital literacy, and effective communication. Tailored to the needs of the Thornage Hall community, the course emphasises hands-on learning and real-world applications to enhance independence and confidence. Whether you’re looking to improve your financial management, acquire new skills, navigate technology, or boost interpersonal skills, this course offers the tools and support needed to thrive in daily life.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 19/12/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Thornage Hall Independent Living
Sharrington Road
Thornage
Holt
Holt
NR25 7QH
Tutor:
Laura Howsen
Course code:
Q00019020
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Assertiveness and Learning to Say No

Being assertive means finding the right balance between passivity and aggression. In practical terms, it means knowing how to stand up for yourself and say no to people. This can be difficult, especially with loved ones. Assertiveness training helps you learn tools to address these situations in a way that makes you feel good. Assertiveness has many positive impacts on your emotional well-being, which makes it worthwhile to pursue. These can include lower stress levels and higher self-esteem. Confidence-building courses work on assertiveness to help you feel more sure of yourself.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 07/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Newcastle Bangladeshi Association
246-248 Elswick Road
Newcastle
NE4 6SN
Tutor:
Maryam Knowles
Course code:
Q00019056
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40

Learn Excel and managing finances

This Multiply course, offered online by WEA in Essex, is perfect for beginners without a Level 2 maths qualification who want to upskill in Excel and financial management. This course provides a foundation in using Excel for budgeting, creating basic formulas and financial tracking—key skills for today’s job market. You’ll learn basic Excel functions, financial calculations, and practical problem-solving tailored to real-world financial scenarios. With flexible online learning and support from an experienced tutor, this course helps you build confidence in handling finances, enhancing your employability and preparing you for work-ready roles.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 07/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Chris George
Course code:
Q00019258
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Personal Development: Skincare and Makeup for Beginners

On this course for beginners you will look at simple skincare and makeup for women, focussing on natural ingredients and items you may have at home. By combining theory with practical skills, this course empowers individuals to make informed choices, promoting healthier skin and to gain the skills to apply makeup to a good level. There will be an enrolment session on 5th September at 10-2. Please bring photographic ID, proof of address and proof of benefits (if applicable). Learners cannot attend the first session of the course unless fully enrolled.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Fri 13/12/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Millan Centre (Bradford)
Victor Street
Bradford
BD9 4RA
Tutor:
Sheeba Khan
Course code:
Q00011581
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00