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.

Skip to courses

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.

Please enter your postcode

In order for us to give you accurate results for your courses, please click on the Search options and enter your postcode and the mile radius for your search.

Refine search

How you'll learn

Your location

Please enter your postcode or town for your search in the boxes below.

We have defaulted the search to ten miles, but you can change this number in the box as you wish.

Sort by start date

Choose to sort the course start date in ascending order (furthest away dates first) or descending (most recent dates first)

Results per page

Days

Other Filters

Part of day
Level of study
Availability
Search for the branch name/location, without adding branch e.g. Barnet

Digital skills for Parents

Explore essential skills for managing your family’s digital safety, personal finances, and family wellbeing. This course empowers participants to protect their families online, manage finances digitally, and leverage technology for overall family wellness. The internet is vast and fast moving and often our children are more tech savy, this course will cover how you can manage what your children can access in order to increase their safety. The course will also cover a range of digital tools that can help you keep track of your personal budget at the click of a button as well as exploring what applications and sites can have a positive influence on family wellbeing.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 03/04/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
P00000096
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available

Lipreading and Managing Hearing Loss

Come along and join our friendly lipreading group in Hayle. This class is suitable for all levels of lipreaders and is ideal for those recently experiencing hearing loss. Our experienced tutor will guide you through the basics of lipreading and show you how to practice your lipreading skills in everyday life. Research has shown that attending a lipreading class can give you greater: • Confidence to communicate with others • Control over your hearing loss, as you develop new communication skills • Independence, as you’re less reliant on others to help you follow conversation (Source RNID.org.uk) You will learn in a supportive environment alongside other learners who will be able to share their experiences of hearing loss and learn how to overcome them together

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 13/02/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00017043
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Healthy Lifestyle: 5 Ways to Wellbeing

This course will enable you to consider your mental health and ways to stabilise and self-regulate your wellbeing. You will learn about different strategies that can help you re-balance and boost your self-esteem through positive action. The 5 ways to wellbeing is a national programme, which suggests there are five key things you can do each day to improve your overall mental and physical health. These include being more active, practising mindfulness, learning new things, and giving back to others. This course encourages connection with others and how to talk and reflect on ways to have a happier and healthier life!

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 27/02/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017182
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £147.00

Fitness and Exercise: Yoga to improve joint mobility and strength

Enhance your well-being with our Yoga to Improve Joint Mobility and Strength course. This class focuses on yoga practices specifically designed to increase joint flexibility and build muscle strength. Through a blend of mindful movements, stretching, and strength-building postures, you will learn techniques to support and protect your joints. Suitable for all levels, this course encourages you to listen to your body and adapt practices to meet your individual needs. Enjoy a supportive environment where you can develop greater joint mobility and strength, ultimately improving your overall physical health and quality of life.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 13/02/2025
Times:
10:00am - 11:45am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Kagyu Samye Dzong Scarborough
Londesborough Lodge
The Crescent
Scarborough
YO11 2PW
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018229
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.80

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:
£15

Healthy Living; Lipreading and managing hearing loss

Learn the basics of outdoor cooking with our Healthy Living: Cooking Using a Fire course. Discover techniques for preparing and cooking meals over an open flame. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and anyone interested in learning new cooking skills.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 13/02/2025
Times:
9:30am - 1:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Rector's Way Allotments (Weston-super-Ma
Rectors Way
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 3NP
Tutor:
Matt Doolan
Course code:
Q00017039
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.20

Personal Development: Creative Outdoor Crafts

Explore your creativity with our Personal Development: Creative Outdoor Crafts course. Learn how to create beautiful crafts using natural materials and outdoor inspiration. Ideal for individuals looking to combine creativity with a love of the outdoors.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 13/02/2025
Times:
1:15pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Rector's Way Allotments (Weston-super-Ma
Rectors Way
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 3NP
Tutor:
Matt Doolan
Course code:
Q00017816
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £56.70

Healthy Living: Managing Anxiety

Learn practical strategies for managing anxiety in everyday life with our Healthy Living: Managing Anxiety course. Ideal for anyone looking to reduce stress and improve their mental well-being.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Fri 07/02/2025
Location:
Alpha Omega Women Peace
Security Foundation
Unit 10
Coppicemere Drive
Crewe
CW1 6HY
Course code:
Q00016726
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Swedish massage for pain relief

Can't afford a massage but know you feel so much better after a treatment? Join me on this friendly self-help course that takes you week by week through how to massage the key areas of the body. You will learn Swedish massage techniques commonly used to support your self-help techniques within your own home. This friendly informative course. Will also cover some of the most popular aromatherapy oils that will support muscle aches and pains, congested tissues, lymph oedema, plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder and a range of other health problems. Learn the key ingredients of Swedish massage that you apply to yourself. Each week we will cover a different part of the body, massage mediums, safe working practice and some basic anatomy and physiology. Open to all levels of learning.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 09/01/2025 -
Thu 27/02/2025
Times:
9:00am - 11:00am
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Georgia Daniel
Course code:
Q00016955
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £59.20

Personal Development: Understanding your finances

Effective budget planning can make you feel like you’ve had a pay rise. Organising your personal budget and understanding your outgoings is the first step towards healthy financial well-being. And the good news is - budgeting is a skill anyone can learn. This budgeting course is right for you if you want to improve your financial well-being. Whether you’re trying to cope with the cost of living crisis or just want to plan your finances better, this course can help you. You do not need advanced maths skills to take this course. It is appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 10/01/2025 -
Fri 07/02/2025
Times:
11:45am - 1:45pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Saima Gulzar
Course code:
Q00015664
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Personal Development: From ''Skint'' to Savvy: Improving Your Relationship with Money

Transform your financial habits with "From Skint to Savvy: Improving Your Relationship with Money." This course helps you understand money management basics, develop budgeting skills, and make smarter financial decisions. Effective budget planning can make you feel like you’ve had a pay rise. Organising your personal budget and understanding your outgoings is the first step towards healthy financial well-being. And the good news is - budgeting is a skill anyone can learn. This budgeting course is right for you if you want to improve your financial well-being. Whether you’re trying to cope with the cost of living crisis or just want to plan your finances better, this course can help you.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 10/01/2025 -
Fri 28/02/2025
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Clare House (SCUNTHORPE)
31 Wells Street
SCUNTHORPE
DN15 6HL
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00018116
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80