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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Cooking Practical: Intermediate

The Cooking Practical: Intermediate enhances culinary skills through advanced techniques, global cuisines, and professional plating. Participants refine methods like braising, baking, and sauce-making while creating signature dishes and multi-course meals.The course fosters creativity, efficiency, and teamwork, preparing students to craft sophisticated, flavorful dishes with confidence.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 09/04/2025
Times:
10:45am - 11:45am
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Wesley Hall Community Centre (Leicester)
76 Hartington Road
Leicester
LE2 0GN
Tutor:
Jamila Mohammed Khanbhai
Course code:
Q00020798
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £46.20

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:
Wed 15/01/2025 -
Wed 26/03/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Horden Salvation Army (Horden)
Dene Street
Horden
SR8 4JY
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00021022
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Cooking for Wellbeing

Explore how cooking can improve your mental and physical health with this course. Learn nutritious recipes, meal planning, prepping techniques, and smart shopping tips. Discover how to make healthy, budget-friendly choices that enhance your wellbeing. Understand the connection between food and mood, and enjoy making healthy choices in a supportive environment.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 06/03/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Mount Pleasant School (Southampton)
Mount Pleasant Road
Newtown
Southampton
SO14 0WZ
Tutor:
Tracey Sweetman
Course code:
Q00016927
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.20

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 16/01/2025 -
Thu 20/02/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Alpha Omega Women Peace
Security Foundation
Unit 10
Coppicemere Drive
Crewe
CW1 6HY
Tutor:
Lisa Richards
Course code:
Q00016708
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Fitness and Exercise: Afternoon Yoga for Everybody

The course is suitable for all ages and for those who have some previous knowledge of yoga practice. The practices will involve a wide range of techniques including posture, breathwork, mindfulness and meditation; study and reflection. Yoga is a traditional and contemporary class where each week there is a guided practice working on a variety of practices and techniques. These include posture, breathing and meditation practices. You will gain an understanding and insight into the subject area as well as leaning ways to improve your general, physical and mental health.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 27/03/2025
Times:
1:15pm - 2:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Arthur
Course code:
Q00012610
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £27.75

Fitness and Exercise: Yoga for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens the bones making them fragile and more likely to break. The origin of the word is from the Greek language to mean 'porous bones'. Bones naturally have some empty space in them to allow them to bend and flex. Those with low bone density or osteoporosis have larger spaces and less bone mass - predisposing them to fractures and other bone injuries, especially in the hip, spinal vertebrae and some peripheral joints such as the wrists. Each week there is a simple, step by step guided practice to build bone strength, building and extending upon the previous week where we work on a variety of postures which are modified and adapted. These practices and techniques include slow, gentle, straightforward movements; breathing and relaxation techniques.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 27/03/2025
Times:
9:15am - 10:00am
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Arthur
Course code:
Q00012605
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.52

Multiply-Baking on a Budget

"Baking on a Budget" is an 11-hour course teaching basic baking skills while saving money. Learn how to bake, mix, flour, sugar, and butter. The course covers how to buy affordable ingredients, follow simple recipes, and store baked goods properly. You'll get hands-on practice, watch helpful videos, and join fun activities. The course also provides tips on fixing common baking problems and quizzes to test your knowledge. By the end, you'll know how to bake delicious treats without spending much money and understand basic baking vocabulary to confidently follow recipes.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 13/02/2025
Times:
9:15am - 11:45am
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Clovelly Centre (Southampton)
60-68 Clovelly Road
Southampton
SO14 0AU
Tutor:
Tracey Sweetman
Course code:
Q00019280
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:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 27/03/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Coundon and Leehome Community Centre
Leeholme Rd
DL14 8HN
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00020446
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Practical cooking: Intermediate

The Cooking Practical: Intermediate LLDD course is tailored for learners with mild to moderate learning disabilities, focusing on refining basic cooking skills. Participants will improve techniques like chopping, baking, and meal preparation, while building confidence, kitchen safety, and independence. The course offers a supportive environment to develop essential culinary skills and creativity.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 10/04/2025
Times:
10:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Robert Hall Memorial Baptist Church (Lei
147 Narborough Road
Leicester
LE3 0PD
Tutor:
Jamila Mohammed Khanbhai
Course code:
Q00020799
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £46.20

Meditation and Mindfulness

Leading a busy life leaves little room for calm and relaxation. This can make it hard for us to wind down and enjoy the present. But finding these moments of calm is essential for our emotional well-being and mental health. This meditation and mindfulness course is ideal if you want to learn to relax, be present, and alleviate stress in your life. Meditation courses teach us to recognise the importance of conscious thought in our everyday lives. Develop concentration strategies to help focus your mind. Understand the principles of mindfulness. Learn to block out intrusive thoughts and enjoy the present moment.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 27/03/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
The Cornforth Partnership (Ferryhill)
68-70 High Street
West Cornforth
Ferryhill
North East
DL17 9HS
Tutor:
Margaret Mordue
Course code:
Q00020025
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free