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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Fitness and Exercise: Get Up and Dance

A fun and friendly online exercise class to get you up and ready for the day ahead. Blow away the cobwebs with a workout to your favourite feel good music; a great mixture of oldies and new songs too. Join in with a gentle warm up, then an all over workout based on dance moves and finish with a relaxing cool down and stretch. All ages and abilities are welcome. Join in at your own pace.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 10/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 10:30am
Duration:
13 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Suzanne Swain
Course code:
Q00010895
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £48.10

Building Emotional Resilience

Do you often feel overwhelmed? Would you like to have more control over your emotions? This course can teach you how to build emotional resilience through effective emotional awareness and confidence-building exercises. It’s easy to feel like everything is getting on top of us during these uncertain times. This Mental Resilience training can help you identify small steps to maintain calm during challenging situations. Avoid feeling like everything is unravelling and learn to deal with challenges when they come.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 24/09/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Community Club
Macrae House
Sea View Walk
Murton
SR7 9NA
Tutor:
Jayne Clark
Course code:
Q00018681
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Seated Yoga

Did you know yoga can help you get stronger and more flexible, no matter your age or abilities? There are yoga courses for all levels and needs. Even if you can’t take part in a standing class, this beginner’s yoga course can help you gain mobility without taking a toll on your joints. Seated yoga is perfect for you if you’d have difficulty following a regular yoga lesson. Whether you have mobility issues or chronic fatigue, this yoga course can help you reduce stiffness in your joints and learn to relax. Enjoy the practice of yoga from a chair.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 15/10/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Thurmaston Community Centre
Silverdale Road
Thurmaston
Leicester
LE4 8NJ
Tutor:
Sukhwinder Garcha
Course code:
Q00018708
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.80

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.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 11/09/2024 -
Wed 18/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
14 sessions
Location:
Focusability (Lincoln)
Ryland Bridge Welton
Lincoln
LN2 3RP
Tutor:
Patrick O'Reilly
Course code:
Q00017389
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £117.60

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

Fitness and Exercise: Dance Fitness

A fun and friendly on line exercise class to get you dancing around the room and set you up for the day ahead. Blow away the cobwebs with a workout to your favourite feel good music; a great mixture of oldies and new songs too. Join in with a gentle warm up, then an all over workout based on dance moves and finish with a relaxing cool down and stretch. All ages and abilities are welcome. Join in at your own pace.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 11/09/2024 -
Wed 11/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 10:30am
Duration:
13 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Suzanne Swain
Course code:
Q00010897
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £48.10

Cooking on a Budget

Cooking homemade food doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Learn how to feed the whole family with tasty and affordable meals in this cooking on a budget course. This is a cooking and personal finance course rolled into one. You’ll get practical budgeting tips you can apply in the kitchen. This course is ideal for you if you’d like to learn how to cook homemade meals on a reduced budget.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 11/09/2024 -
Wed 16/10/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Bilton Hall Community Trust CIO (Jarrow)
Taunton Avenue
Jarrow
NE32 3RT
Tutor:
Anila Maqbool
Course code:
Q00018840
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Beginners British Sign Language (BSL)

If you have contact with deaf people in your day-to-day life, you may want to take a British Sign Language course. Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. This BSL course is suitable for you if you need to communicate with deaf people in a voluntary or community role, or simply through social interactions. This course is aimed at complete beginners. You will start from scratch to learn foundational BSL skills.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 11/09/2024 -
Wed 02/10/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Action Station
Boldon Lane
South Shields
NE34 0LZ
Tutor:
Joanne Liddle
Course code:
Q00018842
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Cooking on a Budget

Cooking homemade food doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Learn how to feed the whole family with tasty and affordable meals in this cooking on a budget course. This is a cooking and personal finance course rolled into one. You’ll get practical budgeting tips you can apply in the kitchen. This course is ideal for you if you’d like to learn how to cook homemade meals on a reduced budget.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 11/09/2024 -
Wed 16/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Action Station
Boldon Lane
South Shields
NE34 0LZ
Tutor:
Anila Maqbool
Course code:
Q00018933
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Regaining Confidence and Self-esteem

Do you ever feel unsure of yourself? Perhaps around new people or at job interviews? If so, this self-esteem course can help you build tools to face these situations with confidence. Low self-esteem can hold you back in all areas of life. Whether you’d like to build confidence to step back into education, meet new people, or change jobs, confidence-building courses can teach you essential tools to change your mindset. Learn how to build self-esteem and overcome obstacles that are holding you back. The first step in your journey is believing you can successfully complete this course!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 11/09/2024 -
Wed 23/10/2024
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Face of Beauty Training
Keir Hardie Avenue
Wardley
NE10 8EJ
Tutor:
Lesley McDonald
Course code:
Q00018657
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

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