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

Healthy Eating - Air Fryer Cooking

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of air frying as a versatile and health-conscious cooking method. Participants will learn the principles of air frying, including temperature control, air circulation, and cooking times, to create a variety of delicious dishes with minimal oil. Through a combination of theoretical instruction, practical demonstrations, and hands-on cooking sessions, students will develop proficiency in using air fryers and discover innovative recipes and culinary techniques. Emphasis will be placed on health-conscious cooking, flavour enhancement, and the adaptation of traditional recipes to suit air frying.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 29/01/2025 -
Wed 09/04/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Fulwell Day Centre (Sunderland)
Fulwell Road
Sunderland
SR6 9QW
Tutor:
Nadia Belmajdoub
Course code:
Q00019993
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Mind and Body: Mindfulness and Meditation

This course will look at all aspects of Mindfulness and how to bring it into everyday life. It is a practical down to earth course.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 29/01/2025 -
Wed 26/03/2025
Times:
6:45pm - 8:45pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nerissa Fields
Course code:
Q00020962
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £59.20

West Sussex Multiply: Language for Numeracy

West Sussex Multiply Course; Welcome to the 'Language for Numeracy' course! This course is designed to help you understand and use English in mathematical contexts. You will learn to read and write numbers, understand math terms, and solve basic problems. You will learn how to use measurements, handle money, and tell the time. The course aims to improve your English skills through practical numeracy tasks in a supportive learning environment. Your tutor will encourage the use of language around numeracy and you will work with incredible students from all around the world that can compare language used for numeracy from their countries. This course is funded by West Sussex Multiply.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/02/2025 -
Mon 10/02/2025
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Crawley Library
Southgate Avenue
Crawley Town Centre
Crawley
RH10 6HG
Tutor:
Gabriella Russo
Course code:
Q00019819
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. This course is funded by North East Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/02/2025 -
Mon 28/04/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
WHIST (South Shields)
Salus House
33 Mile end Road
South Shields
NE33 1TA
Tutor:
Joanne Liddle
Course code:
Q00020009
How you'll learn:
In venue
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 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:
Mon 03/02/2025 -
Mon 24/03/2025
Times:
9:45am - 12:15pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Westgate Hill Primary School (Newcastle
Beaconsfield Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5JN
Tutor:
Nadia Belmajdoub
Course code:
Q00020893
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Trade Union Education: Gaslighting – Intimate Relationships

Do you know what ‘gaslighting’ is? Most people have heard of the term, but many do not understand what it really means. This workshop will delve into the issue of gaslighting as a form of emotional abuse in the context of intimate relationships. We will explore what the word actually means (its use and misuse), how to recognise the signs, and what can be done about it. There will be an information sheet available to all attendees with details of where to get help.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 03/02/2025 -
Mon 03/02/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Matthew Pointon
Course code:
Q00018668
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Multiply: Strategies for Maths L1 Exams

Our Multiply: Strategies for Maths L1 Exams course is designed to help learners build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the Level 1 Maths exam. This course focuses on effective exam strategies, covering key topics such as arithmetic, data handling, and problem-solving. Learners will work through a range of practice exercises and exam-style questions, building their understanding and improving their exam technique. By the end of the course, learners will have a clear strategy for approaching the exam and the confidence to tackle a variety of questions successfully.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 04/02/2025 -
Fri 07/03/2025
Times:
12:30pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
15 sessions
Location:
Malcolm X Community Centre (BRISTOL)
141 City Road
St Pauls
BRISTOL
BS2 8YH
Tutor:
Taona Makunde
Course code:
Q00017850
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

West Sussex Multiply: Language for Numeracy

West Sussex Multiply Course; Welcome to the 'Language for Numeracy' course! This course is designed to help you understand and use English in mathematical contexts. You will learn to read and write numbers, understand math terms, and solve basic problems. You will learn how to use measurements, handle money, and tell the time. The course aims to improve your English skills through practical numeracy tasks in a supportive learning environment. Your tutor will encourage the use of language around numeracy and you will work with incredible students from all around the world that can compare language used for numeracy from their countries. This course is funded by West Sussex Multiply.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/02/2025 -
Wed 12/03/2025
Times:
10:15am - 12:15pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Littlehampton Jobcentre (Littlehampton)
33 Church Street
Littlehampton
BN17 5ER
Tutor:
Gabriella Russo
Course code:
Q00019818
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Nature, Ecology & Permaculture: Introduction to Environmental Science and Sustainability

By the end of the course, the participant will have an understanding of the meanings of basic environmental terms; have a rudimentary awareness of the importance and benefits of sustainable development; have a straightforward understanding of Environmental Management Systems and how they work, have sufficient knowledge to identify and understand issues with pollution and waste; be aware of Environmental Emergency Procedures and be able to individually reduce their impact on the environment as best they can.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 11/02/2025 -
Mon 28/04/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Lee Armon
Course code:
Q00020726
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £99.90

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! Many people are daunted by the prospect of looking for a job when they are over 50 - don't be join this course to find out how to do it with success.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 12/02/2025 -
Wed 12/02/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00012166
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10