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: Festive Cooking

The intention of this course is for the you to learn about different worldwide festivals, both cultural and religious, and how food often plays a part in these celebrations. The course is designed to promote confidence and independence in cooking. The theme of the term is festive cooking. During the course you will look at festivals celebrated in the autumn, up to and including Christmas. You will also learn about the celebrations of other cultures, traditions and festivals. As well as preparing food from other cultures and religions, you will learn about the reason behind the festive foods that are prepared and eaten.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 10/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
14 sessions
Location:
Sacred Heart Church Hall
8 Townsend Road
Minehead
TA24 5RG
Tutor:
Rebecca Williams
Course code:
Q00017068
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £218.40

Healthy Living: Meditation and Mindfulness to encourage restful sleep

Many people struggle to sleep or to have good quality sleep for a variety of reasons. This can negatively impact our ability to be productive in daily life. Regular mindfulness and meditation practice supports both mind and body to relax, therefore supporting many people’s ability to have a good night’s sleep. This practice-based course will guide you through a range of mindful practices that will help you to unwind during the evening. You will learn to anchor in the moment through attentions to your breathing, sound release, mindful movement, and meditation. Each session will end with a guided Yoga Nidra practice to encourage deep rest and quality sleep.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 22/10/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018247
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £38.85

Saving Money & Being Sustainable: The Repair Workshop

This beginner-friendly course empowers you with practical clothing repair techniques. Learn to mend rips, replace buttons, and breathe new life into old favourites. Go beyond basic fixes – explore garment alteration and upcycling, transforming unwanted pieces into stylish finds. Embrace sustainability by reducing textile waste and fostering a love for pre-loved clothing. Develop valuable life skills, build confidence in your creativity, and connect with a supportive community of fellow fashion enthusiasts. No prior sewing experience required – join us and embark on your sustainable fashion journey!

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 12/09/2024 -
Tue 22/10/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Central Community Centre
Lindum Street
Scunthorpe
DN15 6QU
Tutor:
Amie-Alissa Watson
Course code:
Q00018001
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

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 12/09/2024 -
Thu 17/10/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00017040
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

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

Personal Development: Build Your Confidence (Women Only)

This Confidence Building course is ideal for anyone wishing to learn new skills to improve their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 12/09/2024 -
Thu 14/11/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Somerstown Central Community Hub (Souths
Rivers Street
Somerstown
Southsea
PO5 4EY
Tutor:
Bahar Mouland
Course code:
Q00010670
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £75.60

Fitness and Exercise: Afternoon Yoga for Everybody

The course is suitable for all ages and abilities and for those who are experienced and who have some prior knowledge of yoga. 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. Each week there is a guided practice where we will work on a variety of practices and techniques modified and adapted to suit all needs. You will be introduced to yoga in a careful, step by step approach with demonstrations and explanations of key postures, breathing techniques, meditation techniques and themes from the teachings.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 12/09/2024 -
Thu 28/11/2024
Times:
1:15pm - 2:15pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Arthur
Course code:
Q00010031
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £27.75

Fitness and Exercise: Yoga for Osteoporosis

The WEA online course is suitable for all ages, for beginners and those who already practise yoga. It is suitable for those with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis often experienced alongside osteoporosis. Your 'approach' to yoga and 'how' you practise will also help you to develop an increased level of awareness which in turn will lead to practising with an increased attentiveness to your body - getting to know yourself by listening to your body's feedback and responding appropriately . By the end of the course, you will be able to practise postures for strength, alignment, stamina, posture and balance.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 12/09/2024 -
Thu 28/11/2024
Times:
9:15am - 10:00am
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Arthur
Course code:
Q00010037
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.50

Managing Stress and Anxiety

Would you like to learn techniques to relax and wind down? When we’re stressed or anxious it’s hard to feel calm. Anxiety affects over 8 million people in the UK at any time. But you don’t have to live with constant stress or anxiety. There are simple techniques you can learn to manage it. This stress management course is ideal if you want to learn habits to reduce stress and anxiety. It can help you lead a healthier and fuller life

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 13/09/2024 -
Fri 27/09/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Leicestershire Recovery College (Groby)
C/O Bradgare Unit
Glenfield Hospital Site
Groby
LE3 9EJ
Tutor:
Harsha Kotecha
Course code:
Q00017260
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

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 13/09/2024 -
Fri 25/10/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00018117
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

Healthy Living: Mindful Relaxation – Implementing self-care techniques into daily life

Would you like to improve your ability to relax to support your own well-being? This course will help you to relax physically and to calm your mind through a wide range of accessible techniques. You will be guided through a range of breathing practices, mindful movements, and guided relaxation practice during each session, supporting you to deeply relax. You will be supported to identify the practices that are most beneficial for you and to implement short practices into your daily life as you develop your own self – care strategy to support your own well-being. Everyone can improve their ability to relax, why not give it a try?

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 13/09/2024 -
Fri 18/10/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018249
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30