If you are looking for work, need to get a better job, or want to improve your work skills, the WEA is here for you. We have a great track record of helping people like you gain the skills and confidence they need for work. Best of all, most of our work skills courses are free*.    

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You can improve your job opportunities with the WEA.  

Reach your potential  

We know you can reach your potential in three simple steps:  

  • Build your confidence and essential skills  
  • Develop skills related to specific types of jobs  
  • Progress in your current job by boosting your current skills and learning new ones  

Supportive classes

The WEA and our team of supportive tutors are here for you at every step.  Whether you’re a jobseeker, have recently been made redundant or you simply want to move up the ladder, we have a course for you.   

Improve your English, maths or digital skills to earn more money.  Find courses in health and social care, community interpreting, schools and childcare and more.   

Find out more about job hunting, take courses to become more employable or change your career. Boost your employability skills and stand out on that job application.    

Learn your way with the WEA

Take a short, informal course or gain a national qualification. Learning in a classroom, in a work setting or at home, you’ll always have the same great support from your tutor.  

There’s something for everyone.

*Over 90% of applicants for skills courses do not need to pay a fee. Subject to status  - courses are free for unemployed people, job seekers and people on low wage. If you do not qualify you will be alerted during the application process.

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Schools, Parenting and Child Development: Level 2 Teaching assistant taster

Are you thinking about a career in teaching? Then this taster course is for you. Becoming a teaching assistant is the first step in achieving your goals. Teaching assistants are an integral part of the classroom. Not only do they provide vital support for pupils, but they also support the teaching that takes place. This course is ideal if you would like to know more about working as a teaching assistant. The role varies widely with some specializing in certain areas of education such as literacy, numeracy, music, specific learning needs and other disability support, English as a second language or behaviour. Teaching assistants can be found in schools for Early Years right through to secondary schools, and the number of TAs (Teaching Assistant) in one school can vary widely depending on necessity and amount of funding provided.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 24/07/2024 -
Wed 24/07/2024
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Natasha Abrams
Course code:
Q00017568
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40

Paediatric First Aid

The 8-hour paediatric first aid course provides comprehensive training on the essential skills, numeracy and responsibilities of a paediatric first aider. Participants will learn the critical role they play in emergency situations involving infants and children and also how maths plays a role in that. Core topics covered include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), including both resuscitation techniques and defibrillation procedures tailored for paediatric cases.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 25/07/2024 -
Fri 26/07/2024
Times:
10:30am - 2:30pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Beaulieu Community Centre
Beaulieu Square
Centenary Way
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 6AU
Tutor:
Zoe Shelley
Course code:
Q00017062
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Schools, Parenting and Child Development: Helping in schools taster

Would you like to help children gain confidence in their reading as well as English and maths? Then this taster course is for you. This course will give you information about various roles in our schools and parenting pathway. It will give you an insight into the basic skills and knowledge necessary to work in administration, technical, or support roles in a learning environment. You will be introduced to a range of strategies used to help children in schools or your own children at home to become more confident in their ability. This course is ideal for anyone looking to progress onto work or volunteering in an education setting. Join us online for this one-day taster course to find out about our helping in school's courses.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 25/07/2024 -
Thu 25/07/2024
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Natasha Abrams
Course code:
Q00017578
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Introduction to Support Work

This short course will offer you an insight into how to help support someone with their daily life and wellbeing, including people living with physical disabilities and/or mental health issues. As a support worker, you may find yourself working in a variety of settings. The day-to-day job of a support worker will differ depending on the needs of the person, or people they are supporting. The main focus is to help people, whether that is at home, at school or work, enabling them to live more independently, by offering them both physical and emotional support.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 06/08/2024 -
Tue 06/08/2024
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00017106
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £21.00

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

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Emergency First Aid at Work - The Salvation Army Donation Centre in Braintree

The 8 hour Emergency First Aid at Work course consists of practical and theoretical activities. Over two days you will learn the essential skills, including numeracy and responsibilities of a first aider in the workplace. Participants will learn the critical role they play in emergency situations. You will learn the skills and knowledge to provide the organisation with Emergency First Aider's who can provide treatment to casualties in a prompt, safe and effective manner.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 13/08/2024 -
Wed 14/08/2024
Times:
10:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Salvation Army Donation Centre
1 Anglia Way
Braintree
CM7 3RG
Tutor:
Zoe Shelley
Course code:
Q00017080
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

GMCA Care Certificate and Interview Success (Step into Care)

This is a pre-employment programme delivered online that is designed to support you into work within Adult Social Care. The programme will help you to prepare for work in a care setting. The programme consists of up to three elements: GMCA Care Certificate (where you will cover the theory elements of the Care Certificate), L1 Stress Awareness and L1 Mental Health Awareness (additional accredited courses you can join if suitable). Once you have completed the course with WEA, GM Careers will place you for a working interview in a social care setting. This is designed like a working interview, to give you the opportunity to try out the working environment.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 09/09/2024 -
Fri 27/09/2024
Times:
10:00am - 3:00pm
Duration:
15 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Susan Bell
Course code:
Q00015988
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Entry Level Essential Digital Skills: SCC-Beginners Digital Skills (E2/E3)

Welcome to the Beginners Digital course for Entry 2/Entry 3 ESOL learners! This course helps you build foundational computer and digital skills while improving your English. Learn to use computers, navigate the internet, send emails, and use smartphones and tablets. Gain confidence in typing, basic document creation, and safe internet practices. Easy-to-follow lessons ensure a supportive learning environment.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 01/10/2024
Times:
12:15pm - 2:45pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Clovelly Centre (Southampton)
60-68 Clovelly Road
Southampton
SO14 0AU
Tutor:
Irma Gough
Course code:
Q00017135
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.20

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Pre-Entry Essential Digital Skills:

In this beginners course you will be using different applications to help you to produce documents. You will learn how to use search engines to find specific information, save files to a portable device, have knowledge of security aspects when using the internet and this will assist you in the further development of your digital skills. This is a course for a closed group of BAME Women attending Changing Lives Centre, Doncaster.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 26/11/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Changing Lives Women’s Centre (Doncaster
Oracle House
2-5 Princes Street
Doncaster
DN1 3NJ
Tutor:
Angela Wapples
Course code:
Q00011330
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £92.40

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Pre-Entry Digital Skills: Beginners Part 1

Learn to use digital devices and gain essential digital skills for professional and personal use. Digital training helps you move with the times and not get left behind. This beginner’s course is for anyone who wants to learn digital skills, no matter your current knowledge. This course is appropriate for those who feel somewhat confident with their digital skills or would like to improve them, so don’t worry if this is new to you. Learn to use your phone, your keyboard, calendar, notes, contact list and fill out online forms in this Digital Skills course. Understand how to take and upload pictures and search for information online.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 22/10/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Foleshill Women's Training (Coventry)
70-72 Elmsdale Avenue
Foleshill
Coventry
CV6 6ES
Tutor:
Humera Mehrban
Course code:
Q00015611
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £73.60

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

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 11/09/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
West Road Primary School (Doncaster)
West Road
Moorends
Doncaster
DN8 4LH
Tutor:
Angela Wapples
Course code:
Q00010653
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £8.40