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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ParentingConfidence skillsBudgeting and number skillsHealth & wellbeing Cookery & bakingSelf developmentCommunication skills
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Healthy Living: Bespoke complementary therapy

In its most basic form, holistic therapy addresses the mind, body, and spirit to support health and healing. On this course we will cover a range of complementary therapies that help us naturally and alongside prescribed medication. Complementary therapy involves looking at our health and wellbeing from a truly rounded approach by bringing all elements of our mind body and spirit into the session. The more we understand about our body the better we are equipped to live happier and healthier lives. We will cover aromatherapy, reflexology, yoga poses, crystals and emotional freedom technique to specifically treat your problems. This course is for you, written by you. Each week your tutor will cover reflex points, tapping, aromatherapy blends and yoga poses designed to help each person who attends the course.
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Dates:
Thu 10/04/2025 -
Thu 26/06/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Georgia Daniel
Course code:
Q00020809
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £66.60

Stress Awareness

Stress affects most people in the country at some point in life. Understanding the harmful effects of stress is essential to maintaining good mental health and well-being. This stress awareness course can help you recognise and deal with stress when it happens. This mental health awareness training helps you understand what you and others may be experiencing. It is also useful if you work in a support role such as mentor, counsellor, or carer. It will teach you important skills for care jobs if you want to work in adult social care.
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Dates:
Thu 10/04/2025 -
Thu 29/05/2025
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Sasha Dineen
Course code:
Q00021972
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £59.20

Craft: Spring Crafts Engagement workshop

This hands-on workshop introduces learners to the art of crafting, covering fundamental techniques for decorative and functional designs. Whether you’re interested in home décor, or artistic sculptures, this course will provide the skills and inspiration to create unique personised crafts.
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Dates:
Mon 14/04/2025 -
Mon 14/04/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Cornforth Partnership (Ferryhill)
68-70 High Street
West Cornforth
Ferryhill
North East
DL17 9HS
Tutor:
Jayne Clark
Course code:
Q00021916
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Healthy Living: Reflexology as a self help tool

This course is designed for those who may have a little prior knowledge of the subject, right through to those of you who may have heard of reflexology and are interested in learning more about this fascinating subject. Your teacher Georgia has been a reflexology enthusiast for over 30 years and has trained many students who have progressed to industry standards and now run successful business’s. During this relaxed and friendly class, you will learn accessible reflexology techniques to use on both your hands and feet that can be applied from the comfort of your own home. you can practice on family members or friend's or simply just work on yourself. We will cover the history of reflexology, how the body is mapped on both the hands and the feet, and the practical elements required to give a thorough treatment that can really make a difference to your health and wellbeing.
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Dates:
Wed 16/04/2025 -
Wed 02/07/2025
Times:
11:00am - 1:30pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Georgia Daniel
Course code:
Q00020810
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £81.40

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Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Cooking Practical: Cooking for Summer

The purpose of this course is to promote your confidence and independence through cooking. This course is about learning what is meant by seasonal summer foods and dishes. The course will explore a range of savoury and sweet foods and dishes associated with the summer months. You will look at why these foods and dishes are seen as summer foods. For example, you will look at vegetables and fruit grown and harvested in the summer and why the fruit and vegetables work so well to be eaten at this time of year. There will be weekly opportunities to prepare summer dishes.
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Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 22/07/2025
Times:
9:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
13 sessions
Location:
Sacred Heart Church Hall
8 Townsend Road
Minehead
TA24 5RG
Tutor:
Rebecca Williams
Course code:
Q00017180
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £218.40

Everyday life skills

Develop essential life skills with our Personal Development: Everyday Life Skills course. Learn practical skills for managing daily tasks, improving communication, and building self-confidence. Ideal for individuals looking to enhance their independence and quality of life.
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Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 24/06/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Guild House (Plymouth)
Guild House
156 Mannamead Road
Plymouth
PL3 5QL
Tutor:
Peter Childs
Course code:
Q00016151
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £75.60

Healthy Living: Introduction to Holistic Therapies

This is a beginners course to learn some practical skills in hand and skin care, beauty techniques - basic make up application , providing a basic manicure or pedicure treatment, learn how to follow health and safety and working with others effectively in the beauty sector. The purpose of this course is to provide learners with a sound basic knowledge and understanding of the practical skills outlined & to enable them to Develop their skills through being introduced to the beauty Industry and learn about how you should present a professional image in the salon. It will provide learners with a foundation for further learning.
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Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 22/07/2025
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
14 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Rachel Ward
Course code:
Q00014986
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £103.60

Healthy Living: Meditation and Mindfulness to improve mental focus and productivity

Enhance your focus and productivity with our Meditation and Mindfulness for Mental Focus course. This class focuses on techniques to sharpen concentration, enhance mental clarity, and boost productivity. Through guided meditations and mindfulness practices, you will learn to maintain focus, manage distractions, and optimize your cognitive performance. Suitable for all levels, this course empowers you to cultivate a more focused and efficient mindset.
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Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 20/05/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018255
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £27.75

Fitness and Exercise: Seated Yoga with meditation embedding the Yamas

Join me for a seated yoga session, designed to stretch every muscle in the body. We will includce a yoga strap and bring some tin cans to add a weight bearing aspect to your session. During the meditation section of this class your tutor will focus on each of the Yamas. Yamas: the moral, ethical and societal guidelines for those who love yoga. These guidelines are all expressed in the emphatic descriptions of how we understand and relate to the world around us when we are truly immersed in seated yoga. There are five Yamas in total in Patanjali's Sutras: • Ahimsa (non-harming or non-violence in thought, word and deed) • Satya (truthfulness) • Asteya (non-stealing) • Brahmacharya (the 'right use of energy', we will include some self massage and reflexology) • Aparigraha (non-greed or non-hoarding, we will include some focus around space clearing your homes linked with Feng Shui)
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Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 08/07/2025
Times:
11:00am - 1:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Georgia Daniel
Course code:
Q00016954
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.80

Care2: Drawing for Mindfulness

This course is for carers, former carers and the cared for. Drawing for Mindfulness ; taking some moments in your day to connect with your creativity and your sense of play. A key part of this session is tuning in to how you’re feeling, connecting with the breath and taking notice of what you’re doing. By letting go of pre-conceived ideas, you can start to see things as they truly are and gives you the opportunity to draw what you see, not what you think you see. Through this curiosity, you can stay engaged and turn drawing into an adventure, letting go of judgement, and creating a sense of 'flow' in the moment.
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Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 22/04/2025
Times:
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Debra Collis
Course code:
Q00021476
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free