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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Develop Excel and managing finances

Building on the foundational skills from the initial Multiply course, this next step online course by WEA in Essex is designed to advance your Excel and financial management abilities. Perfect for those ready to explore more Excel functions, you’ll gain expertise in entering data, managing spreadsheets, adding/removing columns and rows, and formatting numbers, fonts, and cells. Emphasising real-world applications, this course ensures you can confidently manage and optimise your spreadsheets. Ideal for enhancing employability, this flexible online course allows you to study from home with expert tutor support, preparing you with the essential tools and knowledge to succeed in the modern workplace.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 17/10/2024 -
Thu 17/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Chris George
Course code:
Q00019264
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Multiply - Maths for Work

This Multiply Maths for Work course, is designed to help you build confidence in everyday math skills. You'll learn how to solve practical problems using basic math, like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. We'll cover topics such as working with percentages, fractions, and measurements, all with real-life examples. The course is perfect for those who want to improve their math for work, study, or daily tasks. By the end, you'll feel more prepared to tackle math in real-world situations. This course is suitable for beginners and anyone needing a refresher.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 21/10/2024 -
Mon 02/12/2024
Times:
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Marlene Clarke-Davis
Course code:
Q00019479
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Confidence to Learn: Study Skills

Would you like to learn new skills or change jobs? It can be hard to get back into learning after a long break. This confidence training will prepare you to feel comfortable stepping back into the classroom. This short course can help you bridge the gaps in your confidence and overcome the obstacles standing in your way to get back into learning. The objective of this course is to get you into a positive mindset to achieve your goals. You will practise a variety of confidence-building exercises to help that mindset shift come from within.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 22/10/2024 -
Tue 19/11/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 1:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Swati Lahiri
Course code:
Q00018527
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40

Multiply - Maths for Work

This Multiply Maths for Work course, is designed to help you build confidence in everyday math skills. You'll learn how to solve practical problems using basic math, like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. We'll cover topics such as working with percentages, fractions, and measurements, all with real-life examples. The course is perfect for those who want to improve their math for work, study, or daily tasks. By the end, you'll feel more prepared to tackle math in real-world situations. This course is suitable for beginners and anyone needing a refresher.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 22/10/2024 -
Mon 04/11/2024
Times:
2:30pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ekta Vishrolia
Course code:
Q00019074
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Personal Development: Confidence to Learn: Study Skills

Are you currently studying? On this Confidence to Learn course, you will develop study skills that will help direct you to a more focused way of studying. If you have not studied for a long time, or worried about how to start an assignment, or manage your time, this is the course for you. You will have the opportunity to personalise your approach to study and learning. Over the course you will find out what works best for you. General study skills are not for a specific subject, they are skills that cover all subject areas. The study skills you will develop at this level will help as you go through each topic on the course. To develop your study skills, you will practise a variety of tasks such as time management, active listening skills, note taking and many more. This will help you become more confident in the way you study. Study skills are not just for this course, they can be used in a variety of ways, for example solving problems in everyday life and managing your time successfully and learning to remain focused on a task.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 23/10/2024 -
Wed 05/03/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
16 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Gabriella Russo
Course code:
Q00017548
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

SCC Cooking Practical: Learning to Cook-Life SkillsQ00016504

Welcome to the Learning to Cook Life Skills Course! This course is perfect for beginners who want to learn essential cooking skills. You will learn how to prepare simple and healthy meals. We will teach you basic cooking techniques, such as chopping, boiling, and frying. You will also learn how to read recipes, measure ingredients, and use kitchen tools safely. Our friendly tutor will guide you through each step. By the end of the course, you will be able to cook delicious meals for yourself and your family. Join us and gain the confidence to cook at home! This course is only for those who are living in Southampton.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 23/10/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
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:
Q00017063
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.20

Intermediate British Sign Language (BSL)

Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. Build on your skills in British Sign Language to be able to have deeper interactions with deaf people. This BSL course is suitable for you if you need to communicate with deaf people or people with hearing impairments. It can help you in a variety of contexts, for example in a voluntary or community role, or simply through social interactions. This course is aimed at intermediate learners. You will build on your existing BSL skills. If you would like to start from scratch, you can take the beginner’s BSL course.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 23/10/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Horden Youth & Community Centre (Peterle
Eden Street
Horden
Peterlee
SR8 4LH
Tutor:
Maria Hambley
Course code:
Q00018478
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Multiply: Spooky Numbers

Join us for a fun and educational Halloween numeracy special, funded through Multiply in Norfolk. This one-session course is designed for the Thornage Hall community, combining festive Halloween activities with essential numeracy skills. Participants will engage in hands-on, themed exercises that make learning math both enjoyable and practical. Whether you're looking to sharpen your number skills, problem-solving abilities, or just enjoy a unique Halloween experience, this session offers the perfect blend of fun and education. Come dressed in your favourite costume and leave with improved numeracy skills and spooky memories!

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 24/10/2024 -
Thu 24/10/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Thornage Hall Independent Living
Sharrington Road
Thornage
Holt
Holt
NR25 7QH
Tutor:
Laura Howsen
Course code:
Q00018849
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Excel and managing finances

The 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, financial tracking, and data analysis—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 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 24/10/2024 -
Thu 24/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Chris George
Course code:
Q00019266
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Fitness and Exercise: Movement This Autumn (Basic Disco Dance Steps for Everyone)

Start your week with a fun and feelgood hour of breathing, stretching and dancing. Keep fit, move and groove to some uplifting and energising music. During this five-week course you’ll learn some funky DISCO steps and complete some simple choreography. Dancing is proven to be good for your body and your mind. For improving your cognitive skills. Through learning a simple dance routine, you will: improve flexibility, minimize stress, increase energy levels and have better coordination, balance and strength. So come and release your inner disco diva and dance like no-one (or maybe everyone!) is watching.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 04/11/2024 -
Mon 02/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 11:00am
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Helen Watson
Course code:
Q00010730
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £18.50