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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Communicating Confidently

Would you like to feel more confident in conversations, meetings, or speaking in public? If you struggle to find your voice or get your point across, this communication skills course can help you feel more comfortable in conversation. Improving your communication skills can go a long way towards boosting your confidence in these situations. Learn effective tools and techniques to improve your communication skills. Whether you want to feel more comfortable meeting new people, holding union meetings or participating in community discussions, these confidence-building exercises can help you.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 25/11/2024 -
Mon 13/01/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Tricuro -Parkstone Connect Day Centre (P
Croft Road
Poole
BH12 3LD
Tutor:
Karen Johnson
Course code:
Q00013192
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £63.00

Multiply: Maths for Construction Workers

This Multiply Maths for Construction Workers course builds essential numeracy skills tailored for those in or aspiring to join the construction sector. Spanning six 2-hour sessions, this course covers practical applications such as measurement conversions, area and perimeter calculations, and mixing ratios, all within a construction context. By focusing on real-world examples, learners gain confidence using maths to enhance accuracy and efficiency in their work. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 26/11/2024 -
Tue 14/01/2025
Times:
9:00am - 11:00am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Andy Dowd
Course code:
Q00019674
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Multiply: Maths for Construction Workers

This Multiply Maths for Construction Workers course builds essential numeracy skills tailored for those in or aspiring to join the construction sector. Spanning six 2-hour sessions, this course covers practical applications such as measurement conversions, area and perimeter calculations, and mixing ratios, all within a construction context. By focusing on real-world examples, learners gain confidence using maths to enhance accuracy and efficiency in their work. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 26/11/2024 -
Tue 14/01/2025
Times:
11:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Andy Dowd
Course code:
Q00019675
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Multiply: Maths for Support workers in School

Designed for current and aspiring school support workers, this course focuses on practical maths skills that are directly applicable to the classroom. Over six sessions, learners will explore foundational maths concepts and apply them in real-world scenarios to enhance their ability to assist students. The curriculum covers essential topics, including basic operations, equivalencies between fractions, decimals, percentages, interpreting data, managing schedules, and using measurement skills. Activities such as creating timetables, planning classroom decorations, help participants contextualise maths in a school setting. Each session highlights practical applications, ensuring learners gain skills they can use to improve students' learning experiences in maths. Note: This introductory online course offers a foundation in practical numeracy skills for support workers in schools. It will familiarise learners with essential maths used in classroom support tasks, providing valuable preparation for those considering accredited maths qualifications. It’s also suitable for individuals currently in support roles in schools who want to refresh their foundational maths skills. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 26/11/2024 -
Tue 17/12/2024
Times:
2:30pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Andy Dowd
Course code:
Q00019676
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Cooking Practical: Christmas Desserts

Lots of lovely Christmas baking and pudding ideas for you to make along with me. On this course we will be making traditional Christmas pudding, a gingerbread house, Yule log and an alternative to Christmas pudding for those of you that see no attraction in a dried fruit concoction!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 27/11/2024 -
Wed 18/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Catherine Wilcock
Course code:
Q00019831
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Personal Development: Introduction to Different Perspectives on Mental Health

We will explore the experience of mental distress from four very different viewpoints. Each has something to offer, none has the whole story. · The Biological aims to understand what is going on in the brain and the body. It underpins the medical model. · The Psychological perspectives seek to explain our mental states in terms of our thinking, feelings and habits. It’s all in the mind. · The Social perspective shifts the focus away from the individual. It is society that needs to change. · A Spiritual perspective goes beyond our limited sense of self to seek deeper meaning in our life journey.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 27/11/2024 -
Wed 27/11/2024
Times:
2:30pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kevin Walker
Course code:
Q00019893
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Confidence to Learn

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. Learn skills to help you succeed in online and face-to-face teaching settings. Regain forgotten study habits. Pick up techniques to help you organise and enjoy your learning process. Understand where you feel most and least sure of yourself and do confidence-building exercises to get the most out of your studies. Confidence-building courses help you improve your self-esteem and overcome obstacles that hold you back. By the end of this course, you will feel confident to go after your learning objectives.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 27/11/2024 -
Fri 30/05/2025
Times:
3:00pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
22 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Bimbola Olawanle
Course code:
Q00017623
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Multiply: Maths for the Care Workers

This Multiply Maths for Care Workers course introduces key numeracy skills needed in the care sector. Over six 2-hour sessions, learners will cover practical applications, including medication dosages, unit conversions, reading charts, and managing time effectively, helping participants apply maths confidently in routine care tasks. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 27/11/2024 -
Wed 15/01/2025
Times:
9:00am - 11:00am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Andy Dowd
Course code:
Q00019680
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Multiply: Maths for Support workers in School

This Multiply: Maths for Support Workers in Schools course provides essential maths skills tailored for support staff in school settings. Across six sessions, learners will gain confidence in practical numeracy areas like basic maths, fractions, percentages, measurement, and data interpretation. Each session connects mathematical concepts to real-life tasks, enabling participants to support children's learning effectively and enhance classroom engagement. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 28/11/2024 -
Thu 16/01/2025
Times:
9:00am - 11:00am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Andy Dowd
Course code:
Q00019677
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Multiply: Maths for the Care Workers

This Multiply Maths for Care Workers course introduces key numeracy skills needed in the care sector. Over six 2-hour sessions, learners will cover practical applications, including medication dosages, unit conversions, reading charts, and managing time effectively, helping participants apply maths confidently in routine care tasks. This course is funded by West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 28/11/2024 -
Thu 16/01/2025
Times:
11:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Andy Dowd
Course code:
Q00019678
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free