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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Using a Spreadsheet to Manage Finances Multiply

Learn how to use spreadsheets to manage your finances with our Using a Spreadsheet to Manage Finances Multiply course. Understand basic spreadsheet functions and how to apply them to budgeting and financial planning. Ideal for individuals looking to improve their financial literacy and digital skills.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 21/01/2025 -
Tue 18/03/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Somerstown Central Community Hub (Souths
Rivers Street
Somerstown
Southsea
PO5 4EY
Tutor:
Gillian Futcher
Course code:
Q00017800
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Makaton

Ever heard of Makaton? It's a unique language programme, and over 100,000 people are using it to communicate in the UK today. It combines symbols, signs, and speech to make conversation easier for people who have communication difficulties. This Makaton course is ideal for you if you want to learn an inclusive communication tool. It can help you interact with people who have speech, hearing, or learning difficulties. This Makaton sign language course covers the essentials of hand signals, fingerspelling, and signing. Learn to introduce yourself. Develop knowledge to be able to sign about basic topics such as numbers and colours.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 21/01/2025 -
Tue 08/04/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Easington Lane Community Access Point
Easington Lane
Houghton - le- Spring
DH5 0LE
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00019291
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Trade Union Education: Gaslighting – Family & Friends

Do you know what ‘gaslighting’ is? Most people have heard of the term, but many do not understand what it really means. This workshop will delve into the issue of gaslighting in the context of the workplace. We will explore what the word actually means (its use and misuse), how to recognise the signs, and what can be done about it.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/01/2025 -
Wed 22/01/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Matthew Pointon
Course code:
Q00018670
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Multiply: Maths for Construction Workers

This Multiply Maths for Construction Workers course builds essential numeracy skills tailored for those in or aspiring to join the construction sector. Spanning six 2-hour sessions, this course covers practical applications such as measurement conversions, area and perimeter calculations, and mixing ratios, all within a construction context. By focusing on real-world examples, learners gain confidence using maths to enhance accuracy and efficiency in their work. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/01/2025 -
Wed 26/02/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00019675
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Multiply: Maths for Support workers in School

This Multiply: Maths for Support Workers in Schools course provides essential maths skills tailored for support staff in school settings. Across six sessions, learners will gain confidence in practical numeracy areas like basic maths, fractions, percentages, measurement, and data interpretation. Each session connects mathematical concepts to real-life tasks, enabling participants to support children's learning effectively and enhance classroom engagement. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/01/2025 -
Wed 26/02/2025
Times:
9:00am - 11:00am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Andy Dowd
Course code:
Q00019677
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Manging stress, fatigue and overwhelm

Stress affects most people in the country at some point in life. Understanding the harmful effects of stress is essential to maintaining good mental health and well-being. This stress awareness course can help you recognise and deal with stress when it happens. This mental health awareness training helps you understand what you and others may be experiencing. It is also useful if you work in a support role such as mentor, counsellor, or carer. It will teach you important skills for care jobs if you want to work in adult social care.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 24/01/2025 -
Fri 14/02/2025
Location:
Kings Quarter
The Forum, NEM House
37-41 Clarence Street
Gloucester
GL1 1EA
Course code:
Q00017033
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Personal Development: Build Your Confidence (Women Only)

This Confidence Building course is ideal for anyone wishing to learn new skills to improve their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 24/01/2025 -
Sat 05/04/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Somerstown Central Community Hub (Souths
Rivers Street
Somerstown
Southsea
PO5 4EY
Tutor:
Inna Gorobets
Course code:
Q00010670
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £75.60

Professional Development: Food safety

Food Safety is so important in food preparation. If caterers, chefs and wait staff are not adequately trained they can present huge health risks to the community. If you help out in a community or voluntary role, you may need to work with food. Understanding the safe handling of food is key to preventing infections and ensuring proper hygiene. Food safety courses are useful if you do any kind of charity or voluntary work that involves handling food. Whether you help prepare lunches at a community centre or collaborate with a food bank, this knowledge can help you ensure hygiene measures are followed. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 27/01/2025 -
Mon 03/02/2025
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Marlene Clarke-Davis
Course code:
Q00015560
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £16.80

Trade Union Education: Gaslighting – The Workplace

Do you know what ‘gaslighting’ is? Most people have heard of the term, but many do not understand what it really means. This workshop will delve into the issue of gaslighting in the context of the workplace. We will explore what the word actually means (its use and misuse), how to recognise the signs, and what can be done about it.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 27/01/2025 -
Mon 27/01/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Matthew Pointon
Course code:
Q00018671
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Retirement Planning

Are you approaching retirement age? Navigating the lifestyle change that retirement brings can be tricky. This retirement planning course aims to prepare you and your family for the changes that retirement brings. Its objective is to help you through the transition with ease so that you can enjoy this new phase of life. This short course will also help you gain an understanding of retirement planning services that exist to help you. This retirement planning training course covers personal planning and financial planning. Understand the emotional and personal changes that retirement brings. Consider how to plan your time and manage your relationships to maintain your emotional well-being. Is retirement really what it’s cracked up to be? Are you ready to retire? Research suggests that many people struggle to adjust to retirement although they may have been looking forward to it. How can we prepare ourselves effectively for this new phase of our lives? You may be someone who has always hankered to pursue a new career, volunteering or developing a new interest and would like the opportunity to fine tune and test out your ideas. We will be looking at your views about retirement, what some of the pitfalls might be, where you might start to look for financial planning advice, health, work and volunteering opportunities. Join us to explore this wonderful opportunity to have the time of your life!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 29/01/2025 -
Wed 29/01/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00012168
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10