WEA courses

Unlock your inner writer! This 4-week Introduction to Creative Writing course will ignite your imagination and guide you in expressing yourself through the power of words. We'll delve into various writing styles, helping you observe the world around you with fresh eyes and translate those experiences onto the page. Whether you're a complete beginner or have dabbled in writing, this course is designed to unleash your creativity and deepen your enjoyment of the written word.

Develop skills to help you read, write, and communicate in English with confidence. Improved language skills open doors to work and study opportunities and help you learn key skills for employment. Level 1 functional skills courses are not like learning English at school. They’re created by adults for adults, and aim to teach you practical English skills through real-life situations. Strengthen your writing skills and learn reading techniques to help you tackle everyday situations at work or while studying. This adult English course helps you develop your language skills through real-life situations. Functional Skills level 1 is a government-funded accredited English course for adults. Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades A*-C, or 4-9. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course.

Human beings have told each other stories about ghosts since the ancient times, but the ghost story as we know it was created by the writer and scholar M. R. James (1862-1936). At Christmas, James would read his stories aloud to friends and colleagues at the University of Cambridge. The BBC began adapting James’s stories in 1971 as part of their ’Ghost Story for Christmas’ series. In this course we will look at seven of James’s most famous and enjoyed stories, a number of which were adapted by the BBC. We will consider each story on its own, looking at James’s use of suspense and humour. How does James write a ghost story? Are they scary? And, most of all, what are we scared of? No previous knowledge of ghost stories is necessary – everybody is most welcome!

This course is specifically designed for individuals who are looking to build foundational mathematical skills with a focus on practical applications in the context of employment. Whether it's looking at vacancies, start and end times, pay and general information around workplace vocabulary involving numeracy. This course will help you navigate your way around numeracy for work and teach you how to calculate and understand vacancies and jobs better.

Build your confidence as a creative professional with our Confidence Building for Creatives course. Ideal for artists, writers, and other creatives looking to overcome self-doubt and take the next step in their creative journey.

Uncover the history and architectural significance of castles in Northern England and North Wales with this archaeological course. Ideal for history buffs and archaeology enthusiasts alike.

The Driving Theory for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Learners course is specifically designed to assist non-native English speakers in preparing for and passing their driving theory test. This course focuses on building essential language skills and understanding of driving rules and regulations in an English-speaking context. Participants will gain confidence in both their language proficiency and their knowledge of traffic signs, road safety, and driving laws necessary to pass the theory test. The course takes place in a friendly and encouraging environment, supported by a specialist tutor and the team at WEA.

This course is designed to work in conjunction with our entry level ESOL courses, and will allow learners to put the skills learnt in this course into practise. Learners will have the opportunity to develop relationships alongside each other, rehearsing spoken English in a fun and relaxed environment. These sessions are designed to add to learners wellbeing, as well as mastering their current learnt English.

Join guest tutor Andy Beharrell on this fascinating insight into the history and events around the Essex, East Anglia and East Coast Waters. Each week will have a different theme starting with the shipwrecks around East Anglia, followed by The Maunsell Forts and ending with From Tierra Del Fuego to Essex. The course will be in the historic venue of The Reading Rooms at Billericay, Essex.

Did you know that it is estimated that 80% of adults will suffer with back pain at some point in their lives. Back problems are one of the main causes of time off work. Back pain can last a few days, may come and go, or can become a chronic condition. Back care Awareness week aims to empower people with the knowledge and tools to both prevent back problems and to maintain a healthy back. Medical guidance encourages us to keep moving, stretch it out, and try to ease symptoms of stress to better manage back ache. Yoga is an excellent tool to support a healthy back and can be practiced by anyone. This mat-based session will introduce you to simple stretches and postures that