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: Gratitude journalling

Deepen Your Mindfulness Practice: Intermediate Level Ready to take your mindfulness journey to the next level? This 6-week course builds upon your existing knowledge and techniques, empowering you to significantly reduce stress and enhance overall well-being. Explore powerful practices like mindful breathing, cultivating a mindful brain, and integrating mindfulness into daily activities. Discover how just a few minutes a day can transform your busy life, fostering inner calm and reducing stress levels.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 06/11/2024 -
Wed 18/12/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
14 sessions
Location:
KCU Ltd at Fuller Church (Kettering)
51 Gold Street
Kettering
NN16 8JB
Tutor:
Caroline Smy
Course code:
Q00016622
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 07/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Hayle Community Centre
58 Queensway
Hayle
TR27 4NX
Tutor:
Janet Corbett Marston
Course code:
Q00017041
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Managing Stress

Do you find it difficult to wind down? When we’re stressed it’s hard to feel calm and relaxed. But you don’t have to live with constant stress. There are simple techniques you can learn to manage it. This stress awareness course is helpful for anyone who wants to learn to alleviate stress. In this course we will learn how to identify stress risk factors, recognise the symptoms of stress, and apply techniques to reduce it. Depending on your needs, there are various study options after this course.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Location:
Alpha Omega Women Peace
Security Foundation
Unit 10
Coppicemere Drive
Crewe
CW1 6HY
Course code:
Q00016708
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Personal Development: Healthy Family Food 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. Learn how to select nutritious ingredients to prepare wholesome meals without breaking the bank. Brainstorm recipe ideas with the class to make use of leftovers. Get tips on how to store food properly to avoid wastage. Learn how to save money when doing food shopping and other budgeting tips.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 19/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Clare House (SCUNTHORPE)
31 Wells Street
SCUNTHORPE
DN15 6HL
Tutor:
Amie-Alissa Watson
Course code:
Q00017967
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

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: Yoga to improve core strength

Would you like to improve your core strength? This yoga course will help you to identify and locate the muscles that form the core, and help you to understand that a stronger core stabilises the spine and improves our balance. You will practice a range of accessible postures that help to build core strength in a safe way and also improve core muscle flexibility. Each session will focus on warming up safely for posture practice and a balanced range of postures that help to build core strength and flexibility. You will learn how breathing influences the muscles of the core. Each session will end with a relaxation.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 07/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 11:45am
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
St James Church and Community Arts Cntr
24 Seamer Road
Scarborough
YO12 4DT
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018225
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
4 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.10

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:
Fri 08/11/2024 -
Fri 22/11/2024
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:
Q00017259
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

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:
Mon 18/11/2024 -
Mon 24/02/2025
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
13 sessions
Location:
Wakerley Court (Leicester)
41
Halstead Street
Leicester
LE5 3RQ
Tutor:
Harsha Kotecha
Course code:
Q00017258
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.80

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:
Mon 18/11/2024 -
Thu 21/11/2024
Times:
11:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Seetec Pluss Poole
Poole
BH12 1ED
Tutor:
Dulcie Allan
Course code:
Q00012365
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

Communicating Confidently

Would you like to feel more confident in conversations, meetings, or speaking in public? If you struggle to find your voice or get your point across, this communication skills course can help you feel more comfortable in conversation. Improving your communication skills can go a long way towards boosting your confidence in these situations. Learn effective tools and techniques to improve your communication skills. Whether you want to feel more comfortable meeting new people, holding union meetings or participating in community discussions, these confidence-building exercises can help you.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 25/11/2024 -
Mon 13/01/2025
Times:
10:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Tricuro -Parkstone Connect Day Centre (P
Croft Road
Poole
BH12 3LD
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00013192
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £63.00

Cooking Practical: Christmas on a budget

Cooking a homemade Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Learn how to feed the whole family with a tasty and affordable festive meal in this Christmas 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 02/12/2024 -
Mon 09/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Hesters Way Community Resource Centre
Cassin Drive
Cheltenham
GL51 7SU
Tutor:
Julia Milton
Course code:
Q00013010
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20