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: Steps to success course

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.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 23/07/2024 -
Thu 25/07/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
KCU Ltd at Fuller Church (Kettering)
51 Gold Street
Kettering
NN16 8JB
Tutor:
Karren Bennett
Course code:
Q00014797
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £37.80

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

Professional Development: CV writing

On this course, you will learn about the key elements of a CV and follow this structure to build your own. You will be guided through a step-by-step process allowing you to build your CV as the course progresses. You will learn about the type of personal information you should include, how to construct your previous education and work experience, as well as how to write an effective personal statement. You will be supported to learn how to effectively search and apply for jobs to help you to work towards your career goals. We will also discuss interview techniques to help you to prepare effectively.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 31/07/2024 -
Wed 28/08/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Shrewsbury Town Football club
Oteley Road
Shrewsbury
SY2 6ST
Tutor:
Tabitha Allsop
Course code:
Q00018454
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:
£15

Introduction to Digital Skills (Maximus, Three Bridges)

Not feeling confident using Outlook? Never opened Outlook in your life? Never mind, this course is for you! This beginner's digital course will cover all the basics that will help you use emails, send attachments and navigate the Internet for work or in your everyday life. Get your digital skills sense to the next level! Please note - this course is specifically for those living in West Sussex. Please do NOT enrol on this course if you do not live in a West Sussex postcode area. This course is FREE for residents of West Sussex and is running as part of the Government Multiply project.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 05/08/2024 -
Mon 19/08/2024
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Maximus Three Bridges Office
Unit 2
3 Crawley Business Centre
Stephenson Way
Three Bridges
Crawley
RH10 1TN
Tutor:
Gabriella Russo
Course code:
Q00017949
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Personal Development: Developing Digital Skills

Enjoy developing your digital skills and build your confidence in knowing how to use a digital device to search for activities to support your family and your health and wellbeing. Learn how to use social media to search for activites you and your family can take part in during the summer holidays. Learner how to know where to look for new events taking place that you and your family can enjoy. During this course you will gain more knowledge and confidence in suing a mobile device.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 05/08/2024 -
Tue 06/08/2024
Times:
10:30am - 1:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
New Hope Global (Birmingham)
Birchfield Library (2nd floor)
3 Trinity Road
Birmingham
B6 6AH
Tutor:
Ekta Vishrolia
Course code:
Q00018185
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £21.00

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:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £21.00

Personal Development - Managing Finance Using a Mobile Device

Enjoy developing your digital skills further in how to use your mobile device to access your online backing app or create one for the first time. During this course you will gain awareness of how to use your mobile device to search and download apps to support with budgeting healthy meals for you and your family.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 12/08/2024 -
Tue 13/08/2024
Times:
10:30am - 1:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
New Hope Global (Birmingham)
Birchfield Library (2nd floor)
3 Trinity Road
Birmingham
B6 6AH
Tutor:
Humera Mehrban
Course code:
Q00018186
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £21.00

Multiply - 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:
9:00am - 1:00pm
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

Professional Development: Step into care

This course will help you to understand the nature of care and caring and examine the Care Standards that define the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social care sectors. Develop awareness of the variety of roles and opportunities available within the care sector including the NHS. This introduction to care course will support you to understand what skills are needed for the variety of opportunities available to you. This course may lead to further training, an award in health and social care, volunteering and employment. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 19/08/2024 -
Mon 09/09/2024
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Sophie Fowkes
Course code:
Q00015540
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60