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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Using Canvas to Learn

Studying online is a fun and effective way to learn. This course will teach you to use Canvas so that you can get the most out of WEA courses. You’ll learn digital skills to support you to study WEA online courses. This Canvas course is ideal for you if you’re considering taking a WEA course but feel unsure of your digital skills. It’s appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Thu 01/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kailash Parekh
Course code:
Q00016994
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80

Level 1 Digital Skills

Become a tech-whizz and gain confidence with a variety of online tools. This Advanced Digital Skills training will help you feel comfortable with new technologies and in control of digital spaces. This advanced course is for anyone wanting to further develop their digital skills. You will learn skills for employment and everyday life in this digital skills course. This digital training aims to teach you advanced digital skills for everyday life. It can also help you progress to job roles that require digital skills.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 09/07/2025
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
WEA (Leicester)
101 Hinckley Road
Leicester
LE3 0TD
Tutor:
Chantal Ngounou
Course code:
Q00017246
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.80

Pre-Entry Digital Skills: Advanced

This course is for women only. It will be held at the Dolphin Women's Centre, Washwood Heath, Birmingham and is an ESOL course for learners at Entry Level 1. The course will help you to develop your basic speaking and listening, skills in English. This is an English course aimed at adults for whom English is not their first language. You will get lots of opportuntities to practice your new English skills in groups and individually, you will also be given homework tasks so you can continue to practice at home.. If you are suipporting someone to find an English class you have come to the right place. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 16/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Watch Charity Ltd (Coventry)
10-12 Victoria Street
Coventry
CV1 5LZ
Tutor:
Shirley Bate
Course code:
Q00015621
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Professional Development: The Secrets of Investigative Journalism

If you wonder how people uncover information in the public interest that would usually remain in the dark, this course on investigative journalism is for you. This introductory course highlights the skills needed by investigative journalists when they conduct public interest investigations. Participants explore ways of reporting and editing stories, especially those which usually go unreported. The course will cover definitions of investigative journalism; how to find and plan an investigative story and which sources might be available. It gives a brief introduction to some of the legal and regulatory aspects of journalism.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Rebecca Eliahoo Charles
Course code:
Q00018052
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Professional Development: Start Selling Online to Fund Your Summer Adventures

Learn how to sell online - whether it's your handmade products or making space in your wardrobe
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 21/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Karen Duncan
Course code:
Q00021578
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Award in Preparation for Work in Community Interpreting Level 2

The role of the community interpreter is an integral part of our changing communities and increasingly important. The interpreter acts as a bridge between communities and enables people to access the services they need and approach situations which otherwise would not be possible. The Level 2 Certificate in Preparing for the Community Interpreting Role enables learners who are speakers of other languages to develop the language and skills necessary to go on and train as Community Interpreters at Level 3 and Level 4. This is the ideal qualification for anyone who wants to enter the interpreting profession and become a paid interpreter or volunteer in the UK.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Mariann Meszaros
Course code:
Q00020529
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £300.00

Helping with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Do you help out at a school, community centre, or charity? If so, it’s important to be aware of the range of special needs you can encounter when dealing with others. Special needs education courses can help you understand what to expect and how to support all learning needs. This special educational needs (SEN) course is ideal if you want to learn how to provide inclusive support to learners in a variety of informal settings. During this course, you will become familiar with the range of special educational needs and disabilities you may find in a classroom, community hub, or volunteering environment.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 02/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Gale Hollis
Course code:
Q00021771
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £148.00

Using Canvas to Learn

Studying online is a fun and effective way to learn. This course will teach you to use Canvas so that you can get the most out of WEA courses. You’ll learn digital skills to support you to study WEA online courses. This Canvas course is ideal for you if you’re considering taking a WEA course but feel unsure of your digital skills. It’s appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you.
Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Fri 02/05/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00016990
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80

Personal Development: Introduction to Counselling

This is an introductory short course to help you begin your journey into counselling and therapeutic skills. The course will cover insightful exercises, tutor-led discussions, and reflections to build your skills and self-awareness. This course is not only for those interested in a counselling career but is also excellent for those wishing to develop skills when working in person-facing roles. You will learn about the nature of counselling and The practice of listening skills, including reflecting, paraphrasing, summarising, and giving feedback. You will also consider professionalism, especially the importance of boundaries, transference, working with diversity and difference, as well as codes and ethics.
Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 17/07/2025
Times:
11:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
NST Hub (North Somerset Training Communi
31 Alexandra Parade
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1QZ
Tutor:
Katie Dexter
Course code:
Q00018085
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £252.00

Employability & Skills

Attend our Employability course and boost your skills for work. If you’re entering the workforce for the first time or after a long break, this course can teach you essential skills employers look for and prepare you for the transition. Learn basic skills for jobs in any sector as well as key soft skills for your CV. Feel confident stepping into the workforce. This course will provide you with the soft skills required to get that job and give you the confidence and self esteem to sell what you have to offer to potential employers. Learning will take place in a relaxed environment with other like-minded learners, led by our expert tutor.
Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 22/05/2025
Times:
10:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Natasha Horvath
Course code:
Q00016719
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40