Become a volunteer

By joining a WEA Local Advisory Panel, you could play a critical role in helping WEA understand local need and do just that.  

Many think technical skills and higher education are the solution to their community’s challenges. But approachable, friendly education in core employability and community engagement skills could just unlock the confidence, team-working, talent and interest of local adults and are just as important.   

We believe in creating opportunities. You could help us understand and respond to the areas of greatest need local to you. 

What we are looking for:  

• Passionate individuals: We seek individuals who are deeply passionate about the success of their local community or business and the importance of education to achieve this. 
• Diverse perspectives: We believe that the power of collective wisdom lies in embracing diversity. We welcome individuals from various industries, backgrounds, and cultures. 
• Expertise: We particularly value prior experience of WEA learning, but this is not essential. Experience in the following would be hugely valuable too: Work in the education, voluntary or public sector, business or commercial, fundraising or marketing, finance or law, HR or learning & development. 
• Collaborative Spirit: We are keen to recruit those able to work effectively within a team, listen actively, and constructively contribute to discussions. 
• Active advocacy: We are looking for people with an interest in forging meaningful and productive connections with community organisations, employers and local leaders to advance the WEA’s mission to bring education in reach. 

Full role details, a list of Local Advisory Panel locations and the expression of interest form can be seen here. 

If you would like to discuss this opportunity or receive any assistance with your application, please email governance@wea.ac.uk. 

Volunteering alongside the course tutor, learners and other volunteers, we would like you to help engage and encourage students in their studies. You will be based in the classroom either in person or online. If supporting students in live online courses, you will join the tutor and students on your home computer using the Zoom video-conference app.

We are currently looking for volunteers to support in the Bradford and Wakefield area in-person.

Main volunteer tasks

1. Helping students understand, appreciate and enjoy the topic
2. Supporting and encouraging students in the classroom, either 1:1 or in a small group
3. Helping students to record their learning and develop their study skills
4. Assisting with the set-up and running of activities
5. Complying with the WEA volunteer code of conduct

If you would like to express an interest in either role please complete the form at the bottom of this page.

Volunteering alongside the course tutor, learners and other volunteers, we would like you to help engage and encourage students in their studies. You will be based in the classroom in person.

We are currently looking for volunteers to support in the Harlesden and Redbridge areas of London.

Main volunteer tasks

1. Helping students understand, appreciate and enjoy the topic
2. Supporting and encouraging students in the classroom, either 1:1 or in a small group
3. Helping students to record their learning and develop their study skills
4. Assisting with the set-up and running of activities
5. Complying with the WEA volunteer code of conduct

If you would like to express an interest in either role please complete the form at the bottom of this page.

As a learner attraction volunteer you will work with the learner attraction team to provide a friendly and supportive environment for new and prospective learners. You will attend events and publicise courses within local networks. You will also greet and assist new learners with getting to know about the WEA, their course and the enrolment process. You will be helping us achieve our organisational goals by supporting our learners to get ready to learn and promoting the WEA in communities.

For this role, we are looking for people who have 

• Capacity to work with learners with varying skill levels, including ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners
• Confidence in speaking with a diverse range of people from different backgrounds
• Ability to explain information about the WEA, courses, and enrolment process in an accessible way
• Strong listening skills to understand learners’ needs and questions 
• Feel confident using IT 
• Are flexible and able to commit to a range of events 

If you have other skills and experience which you think could be helpful to the WEA, please let us know.

A Conversation Club Volunteer at WEA will be a key player in helping ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners improve their English-speaking skills. This role is all about creating a fun and relaxed space where learners can practise their English outside of WEA classes. You'll lead conversation sessions that focus on everyday language use, cultural exchange, and building community connections. By offering a friendly environment for learners to chat and interact, you'll help them gain confidence, improve their conversational skills, and feel more at home in the local community. This club is a great supplement to their ESOL classes, giving them extra practice and a chance to use what they've learned in real-life situations. Your role is vital in making learners feel welcome and empowered, helping them navigate daily life and participate more fully in society.

For this role, we are looking for people who also have: 

• Great English skills: You should have a strong grasp of the English language
• Teaching or group facilitation: Experience in teaching or leading groups is a plus, but not essential
• Communication: You need to be a good communicator and enjoy chatting with people 
• Empathy and patience: Being patient and understanding is key, especially when helping learners who might be shy or struggling
• Passion for helping: You should genuinely enjoy helping others and seeing them succeed
• Cultural awareness: It's important to be comfortable working with people from different backgrounds and cultures
• Organisational skills: You'll need to plan and manage the sessions, so being organised will help
• Creativity: Coming up with fun and engaging activities will make the sessions more enjoyable for everyone
• Feel confident using IT

Interview with Andrew Cole of the WEA Walthamstow branch
 

When did you start volunteering at the WEA?
I joined in 1999.
 

What is your background / story and how did you come to volunteer for the WEA?
I worked as a health journalist until very recently. I’ve always had an interest in the local history of Waltham Forest and wanted to discover more about it. In 1999, I joined a course on industry in the Lea Valley being run by Jim Lewis (broadcaster, researcher, author) and haven’t looked back. I have attended nearly all of the evening classes run in Walthamstow since then!
 

What is your role within the Walthamstow branch, and what does this involve day to day?
I have a dual role where I am Class Secretary, and Chair of the branch.

The role of Class Secretary involves lots of administration and logistics related to organising and confirming new courses, liaising with tutors, registering learners and obtaining feedback, as well as sourcing venues for courses.

As Chair of the Branch, I am involved with the rest of the committee in making more strategic decisions, such as choosing the right courses and tutors, and planning marketing strategies for social media and communication to generate interest in the courses. We currently have eight people on the committee, and we meet bi-monthly.

The Walthamstow branch was officially set up in 2005. I became Class Secretary in around 2010, when Eric stopped attending evening classes and then Chair in 2012 when he sadly died.

What courses / activities are available at the Walthamstow branch?
We run two courses each year on the theatre and local history:

• Theatre (daytime course) – examining plays by a range of playwrights past and present.
• Local history (evening course) – focuses principally on local history but over the years we have on occasions branched out into archaeology, social anthropology and philosophy.

We also run social activities each summer; we ask the local members what they want to participate in, then organise events based on their interests. In the past, we’ve organised visits to Neasden Temple, Docklands, National Gallery, Walthamstow Wetlands and Highgate cemetery among many others. We try to keep the branch diverse and open to all.
 

What has been your experience of volunteering at the WEA so far?
It has been interesting taking part in most of the evening classes and being involved in the social activities. There is always a lot to learn on different topics. I developed an interest in the houses on my road and their surprising history – which I would not have done if I hadn’t been part of the WEA. I also helped form the Wanstead Flats history working group, part of the Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society.

What are the benefits of volunteering at the WEA?
It’s great to be part of an organisation that’s socially aware and committed to supporting adult education, and truly believes that learning is for life!

One young woman who so warms the hearts of so many in and around York is twenty-two-year-old Beth Cameron.

Last year, Beth began volunteering for the Families Get Active (FGA) project, which the WEA runs in conjunction with Sport England to help families find ways to get fitter.

Prior to this, Beth had a job in retail while doing graphic design at the University of York, having previously completed a level 3 digital marketing apprenticeship before going to university.

On the FGA project, she created graphics and posts for social media and other outlets and helped promote free workshops aimed at empowering people and increasing self-esteem. ‘Working with such an amazing team of people who are so passionate about helping others has been such a great opportunity,’ Beth said, ‘It has really boosted my confidence and developed my skills.’

WEA project lead Rebecca Rowan told us: ‘Last year this young lady started as a volunteer with us on FGA and through the project we have been able to provide her with many opportunities to showcase her skills and build her confidence. How she has developed over the last year has been phenomenal.’

Now Beth, who has been promoting her talents via @bethjcreate on Instagram, is ready to start a new role at Mind, the mental health charity, where she will be creating graphics and marketing material for the charity's team in York.

She told us: ‘A few years ago I wouldn't have had the confidence or skills to be able to do this, I thank the team on the Families Get Active project for not only being so welcoming and for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do, but also to develop. It has been so great to work on a project that's had such a positive impact on so many people's lives, and I'm going to carry this mind-set through the rest of my career.’