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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Community Interpreting

Are you bilingual? Ever thought about using your language skills to help out in the community? Did you know you can get many jobs with languages? If you speak English and another language fluently, you could make a great community interpreter. This community interpreter course gives you an introduction to the language and interpreting skills needed for this type of work. It can teach you foundational concepts to test your community interpreting skills informally with family or friends. This course can prepare you to help members of your family or community to overcome language barriers in their everyday lives. It can also help you decide if you’re interested in pursuing community interpreting jobs.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/08/2024 -
Thu 31/07/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
P00000025
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available

Support Work in Schools

If you are thinking about a career in teaching, this introductory course is for you. Teaching assistants are an integral part of the classroom. Not only do they provide vital support for pupils, they support the teaching that takes place. This course is ideal if you would like to know more about working as a teaching assistant.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/08/2024 -
Thu 31/07/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
P00000024
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available

Counselling

This course focuses on an understanding of counselling and developing practical skills. The importance of counselling for the wellbeing of individuals and society is being increasingly recognised. You will be introduced to the nature of counselling and learn and practice active listening skills such as reflecting, paraphrasing, summarising, and giving feedback. The course is aimed at anyone who may be considering either a career in counselling, or wanting to develop valuable helping and listening skills, as well as anyone interested in developing self-awareness.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/08/2024 -
Thu 31/07/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
P00000026
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available

Functional Skills English

Get an English qualification to help you access a variety of work and study options. Functional skills courses in English teach you to read, write, and communicate confidently in English. Functional skills English isn’t like learning English at school. This is an English course for adults created by adults. Develop practical English skills by learning language in context.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/08/2024 -
Thu 31/07/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
P00000004
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

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

Functional Skills Maths

Gain a GCSE-equivalent qualification with this functional skills maths course. Learn maths skills to open doors to work and study opportunities. Functional maths courses also support you in everyday situations. Learn maths as an adult and enjoy the experience. Functional maths helps you develop practical maths skills in context. Understand how numeracy skills can assist you in a job or your personal life. This functional skills maths course teaches you essential maths skills through practical examples. It’s ideal for you if you would like to gain a GCSE-equivalent maths qualification.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/08/2024 -
Thu 31/07/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
P00000006
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

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

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

Get Ready for Functional Maths Entry Level 2

Are you preparing for an Entry Level 2 functional skills course in maths? If so, this course can help to prepare you to study. Set yourself up for success studying adult maths with this preparation course. Get ready courses help you learn maths at your own pace. This course gives you extra study time to acquire the knowledge you’ll need for Entry Level 2 maths. This is an introductory maths course for people who are looking to progress to Entry Level 2 functional skills courses. It is a non-accredited adult maths course.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 09/09/2024 -
Mon 02/12/2024
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Clovelly Centre (Southampton)
60-68 Clovelly Road
Southampton
SO14 0AU
Tutor:
Zaynab Al Hakeem
Course code:
Q00017250
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £150.00

Get Ready for Functional Maths (Entry Level 3)

Set yourself up for success with an Entry level 3 functional skills in maths. This get ready course helps you prepare to tackle entry 3 maths with confidence. The essential maths skills you’ll learn will help you get your qualification and serve you in everyday life. Get ready courses help you learn maths at your own pace. The idea of this course is to give you extra study time to acquire the knowledge you’ll need for entry level 3 maths. This is a preparatory maths course for people who are looking to progress to entry 3 functional skills courses. It is a non-accredited adult maths course.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 09/09/2024 -
Mon 02/12/2024
Times:
12:30pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Clovelly Centre (Southampton)
60-68 Clovelly Road
Southampton
SO14 0AU
Tutor:
Zaynab Al Hakeem
Course code:
Q00017262
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £150.00

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