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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Personal Development: Public speaking

Unleash your inner speaker. On this 7-Week Public Speaking Journey This course will empower you to conquer your public speaking fears and deliver impactful presentations with confidence. You'll master the fundamentals of public speaking, gain practical experience through peer feedback sessions, and develop the skills to captivate any audience.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 26/02/2025 -
Wed 02/04/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
KCU Ltd at Fuller Church (Kettering)
51 Gold Street
Kettering
NN16 8JB
Tutor:
Caroline Smy
Course code:
Q00016745
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

Pre-Entry English: Driving theory part 2

This driving theory course part 2 will help you to master the essentials of driving theory in English with this comprehensive course! Get ready for your learner's permit test with confidence by building a strong foundation in road rules, traffic signs, and safe driving practices.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 27/02/2025 -
Thu 27/03/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nadia Belmajdoub
Course code:
Q00016746
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.00

Personal Development: Beginners British Sign Language

We welcome you to join our friendly and engaging introduction to British Sign Language course at Hayle Community Centre, Hayle. British Sign Language (BSL) is a language used by D/deaf people to communicate using hand shapes, facial expressions, lip patterns, gestures, and body language. It’s an entirely different language to English. BSL is the preferred language of over 87,000 Deaf people in the UK for whom English may be second or third. This course is suitable for beginners

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/03/2025 -
Wed 23/04/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00012690
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Cooking Practical: Preparing for Level 2 Food Hygiene

Welcome to the Preparing for Level 2 Food Hygiene Course! This course will cover essential topics to prepare you for Level 2 certification. You will learn about food safety practices, hygiene regulations, and how to prevent contamination. Our tutor will guide you through proper food handling, storage, and cleaning techniques. By the end of the course, you will have a solid understanding of food safety principles and be ready to take your knowledge to the next level. Join us to ensure safe and hygienic food practices in any setting!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 05/03/2025 -
Wed 23/04/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Mount Pleasant School (Southampton)
Mount Pleasant Road
Newtown
Southampton
SO14 0WZ
Tutor:
Tracey Sweetman
Course code:
Q00017064
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:
WEA Membership

Healthy Lifestyle: Meditation and Mindfulness

This course encourages you to explore how mindful living can cultivate a new attitude towards open awareness and kindness. You will discover how to practise mindful self-compassion, learning how to focus your attention to whatever is happening in the present moment without judgment. This skill can help you to manage stress and difficult feelings. You will be guided through research-based practices, including simple meditation techniques, which have been proven to improve overall health and wellbeing. By training your brain to be mindful you will also experience better confidence and self-esteem.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 06/03/2025 -
Thu 24/04/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017185
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £168.00

Personal Development: Budgeting skills

Feeling overwhelmed by household finances? Tired of wondering where your money goes? This 4-week course will empower you to take control with basic budgeting skills. We'll unravel the mystery of household budgeting, making it manageable and clear. Explore smart supermarket schemes and discover if they truly benefit you or the stores.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 22/04/2025 -
Tue 20/05/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
KCU Ltd at Fuller Church (Kettering)
51 Gold Street
Kettering
NN16 8JB
Tutor:
Caroline Smy
Course code:
Q00016753
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

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.

Course Information

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

Healthy Lifestyles: Creative Journaling

This course will give you the opportunity to explore inner thoughts and emotions through creative journalling. Journalling can help you to focus your intentions, ease anxiety and identify the things you would like to change with purpose. Sometimes in life we can feel overwhelmed, and this can contribute to a lack of motivation. This is known as a mental block. Journaling has been proven to help individuals improve their mental health and work through difficult times. By sharing your Journal with the group, you will not be left alone to struggle with your thoughts and feelings in isolation.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 17/06/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017190
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £147.00

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 08/05/2025 -
Thu 19/06/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00017049
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

SCC - Ways to Wellbeing

Welcome to the ‘Ways to Wellbeing’ course. On this course you will explore practical ways to enhance mental health through five key themes: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give. You will engage in interactive sessions covering social connections, physical activities, mindfulness practices, learning new skills, and acts of kindness. Each session integrates discussions, exercises, and reflective activities to foster personal growth and wellbeing. By the end of the course, students will have gained strategies to improve their overall mental and emotional health, promoting a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 19/05/2025 -
Thu 03/07/2025
Location:
Clovelly Centre (Southampton)
60-68 Clovelly Road
Southampton
SO14 0AU
Course code:
Q00016939
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £130.20