If you are looking for work, need to get a better job, or want to improve your work skills, the WEA is here for you. We have a great track record of helping people like you gain the skills and confidence they need for work. Best of all, most of our work skills courses are free*.    

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You can improve your job opportunities with the WEA.  

Reach your potential  

We know you can reach your potential in three simple steps:  

  • Build your confidence and essential skills  
  • Develop skills related to specific types of jobs  
  • Progress in your current job by boosting your current skills and learning new ones  

Supportive classes

The WEA and our team of supportive tutors are here for you at every step.  Whether you’re a jobseeker, have recently been made redundant or you simply want to move up the ladder, we have a course for you.   

Improve your English, maths or digital skills to earn more money.  Find courses in health and social care, community interpreting, schools and childcare and more.   

Find out more about job hunting, take courses to become more employable or change your career. Boost your employability skills and stand out on that job application.    

Learn your way with the WEA

Take a short, informal course or gain a national qualification. Learning in a classroom, in a work setting or at home, you’ll always have the same great support from your tutor.  

There’s something for everyone.

*Over 90% of applicants for skills courses do not need to pay a fee. Subject to status  - courses are free for unemployed people, job seekers and people on low wage. If you do not qualify you will be alerted during the application process.

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Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges Level 2

If you enjoy the buzz of learning environments, this qualification can teach you key skills for employment in a school or college. This government-funded course prepares you for a variety of roles. It provides the basic skills and knowledge necessary to work in admin, technical, or support roles in a learning environment. Studying support work in schools at level 2 can be a first step towards working with kids in teaching positions. It also provides you with the qualifications needed to work in admin at schools. No matter what role you’re interested in, this course can teach you skills for employability in schools and colleges.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 28/03/2024 -
Fri 26/07/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
30 sessions
Tutor:
Natasha Abrams
Course code:
Q00014435
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £225.00

Using Canvas to Learn

Online courses allow students from all regions to access skills and gives you flexibility to learn in the comfort of your own surrounding. But what if this is your first time using an online learning platform or maybe it has been some time since you used online learning. This using canvas course will support you to develop confidence and skills in understanding how to use canvas to get the best experience of online learning. You will learn how to use all the functions in canvas with the support of your online tutor. The course will give students an introduction to accessing and using canvas in preparation for future online courses. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 08/04/2024 -
Tue 09/04/2024
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
2 sessions
Tutor:
Ekta Vishrolia
Course code:
Q00014440
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80

Personal Development: Introduction to massage therapy for personal development

This course offers an introduction to massage therapy in the beauty industry. The course will give you the opportunity to try out and learn professional methods used in this creative Industry. Come and learn in a friendly environment and meet people with similar interests! Your learning is our priority. The WEA pride ourselves on our ability to create a friendly classroom atmosphere, at a venues within your community. Your tutor will support you through your learning journey, every step of the way. Our courses are free for most of our learners, but please bring proof of eligibility when you come to enrol. We can’t wait to see you there!

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 08/04/2024 -
Mon 24/06/2024
Times:
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Cortonwood Comeback Centre (Barnsley)
Old Chapel
Chapel Avenue, Brampton
Barnsley
S73 0XQ
Tutor:
Karen Hunter
Course code:
Q00014767
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £126.00

Unison Excel & Spreadsheets Intermediate PM

This course is open to members of Unison trade union only. You can use spreadsheets to make hundreds of everyday tasks easier - you can use them to efficiently keep track of job applications, birthday lists, inventories of collectible items, or anything else. Never opened a spreadsheet in your life? Don’t worry. This is an Excel course for beginners, and we’ll cover all the basics. This beginner’s Excel course aims to teach you computer skills for everyday life and work.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 09/04/2024 -
Tue 23/04/2024
Times:
1:15pm - 2:45pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Tutor:
Shirley Bate
Course code:
Q00013258
How you'll learn:
Online
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:
WEA Membership

Functional Skills Qualification in English (Entry 3)

Continue developing your English skills to open doors to work and study opportunities. This entry 3 functional skills course helps you learn English skills employers look for. Gain practical skills to improve your reading, writing, and verbal communication in English. Strengthen your writing skills and learn reading techniques to help you tackle everyday situations at work or while studying. This adult English course helps you develop your language skills through real-life situations. Functional Skills entry 3 is a government-funded accredited English course for adults. 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. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/04/2024 -
Wed 19/06/2024
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
10 sessions
Tutor:
Ekta Vishrolia
Course code:
Q00014347
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Fee:
Free

Personal Development: Introduction to Holistic treatments for personal development

This course offers an introduction to holistic treatments in the beauty industry. The course will give you the opportunity to try out and learn professional methods used in this creative Industry. Come and learn in a friendly environment and meet people with similar interests! Your learning is our priority. The WEA pride ourselves on our ability to create a friendly classroom atmosphere, at a venues within your community. Your tutor will support you through your learning journey, every step of the way. Our courses are free for most of our learners, but please bring proof of eligibility when you come to enrol. We can’t wait to see you there!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/04/2024 -
Wed 12/06/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Cortonwood Comeback Centre (Barnsley)
Old Chapel
Chapel Avenue, Brampton
Barnsley
S73 0XQ
Tutor:
Karen Hunter
Course code:
Q00014766
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £113.40

Using Canvas to learn: Steps to success course

Studying online is a fun and effective way to learn. This course will teach you to use Canvas so that you can get the most out of WEA courses. You’ll learn digital skills to support you to study WEA online courses. This Canvas course is ideal for you if you’re considering taking a WEA course but feel unsure of your digital skills. It’s appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 10/04/2024 -
Wed 10/04/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Shrewsbury Town Football club
Oteley Road
Shrewsbury
SY2 6ST
Tutor:
Tabitha Allsop
Course code:
Q00014800
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

Professional Development: Introduction to volunteering

Would you like to find out more about how to enter the world of volunteering? Perhaps you want to volunteer some spare time, or you wish to gain confidence before stepping into paid work? This course will be taught face to face in venue by our highly qualified tutor. This course will enable participants to identify and apply for volunteer opportunities. This fun and engaging course will help to develop learners skills in being able to identify what constitutes as an essential attribute of being a volunteer and how to research to find a potential volunteering opportunity. Learners will be given resources and information to best equip them in making the first steps to becoming a volunteer.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 11/04/2024 -
Thu 02/05/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Gloucester Resources Centre (Gloucester)
City Works
Alfred Street
Gloucester
GL1 4DF
Tutor:
Andrew Vincent
Course code:
Q00014050
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Understanding the Role of a Community Interpreter

Are you bilingual? Ever thought about using your language skills to help out in the community? Did you know you can get many jobs with languages? If you speak English and another language fluently, you could make a great community interpreter. This community interpreter course gives you an introduction to the language and interpreting skills needed for this type of work. It can teach you foundational concepts to test your community interpreting skills informally with family or friends. This course can prepare you to help members of your family or community to overcome language barriers in their everyday lives. It can also help you decide if you’re interested in pursuing community interpreting jobs. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/04/2024 -
Fri 07/06/2024
Times:
9:15am - 12:15pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Dolphin Women's Centre (Birmingham)
Ward End Park
Washwood Heath Road
Birmingham
B8 2HB
Tutor:
Fozia Aslam
Course code:
Q00012352
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
4 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.20

Personal Development: Numerical Massage Techniques

This course is suitable for beginners with no experience and would like to practice a range of relaxation and massage techniques to help combat stress and improve your overall well-being. You will experience a sense of calmness and mind and body awareness while practicing a range of relaxation and numerical massage techniques. These simple but effect methods will help you to focus on your breathing and be more mindful as to how your body feels. By the end of the course, you should feel the following benefits A sense of clarity towards your mind and body Improved skin texture release tension in tight muscles Recognise a range of massage techniques Use the correct pressure Apply hand cream correctly

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 12/04/2024 -
Fri 17/05/2024
Times:
1:15pm - 3:15pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Vicarage Court Care Home (Pontefract)
Vicarage Gardens
Featherstone
Pontefract
WF7 6NH
Tutor:
Juliana Gilmartin
Course code:
Q00013687
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
5 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40