WEA courses

Discover the art of precision and creativity in our Sewing for Business Course. Dive into the fundamentals of machine sewing, mastering essential techniques and garment construction. From threading the needle to embellishing, you'll gain hands-on experience and the confidence to bring your design ideas to life. In parallel, embark on a beginner business journey, learning the basics of entrepreneurship for a sewing venture. Explore market trends, pricing strategies, and customer engagement to turn your passion into a profitable enterprise. Join us for a transformative learning experience that blends craftsmanship with entrepreneurial acumen, equipping you for success in the world of sewing and business.

This course will help you to practice your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English. It will help you get ready to move onto a Level 2 Functional English qualification in the future

Do you know what ‘gaslighting’ is? Most people have heard of the term, but many do not understand what it really means. This workshop will delve into the issue of gaslighting in the context of the workplace. We will explore what the word actually means (its use and misuse), how to recognise the signs, and what can be done about it.

This course is for students to improve confidence in their ability to develop artistic skills and creativity. Learning the skills of a variety of crafts to make unique dimensional projects, using a variety of resources including recycling when possible. You will learn using a range of different teaching and learning activities to include watching and following step by step demonstrations, with one to one help and guidance. You will learn in a safe welcoming and supportive environment, working together with fellow students and the tutor. The course is suitable for a complete beginner in crafts. No prior knowledge is needed, just a desire to learn and develop your skills and creativity.

Knowing how to sign can make your communication more inclusive for everyone you interact with. Build on your skills in British Sign Language to be able to have deeper interactions with deaf people. This BSL course is suitable for you if you need to communicate with deaf people or people with hearing impairments. It can help you in a variety of contexts, for example in a voluntary or community role, or simply through social interactions. This course is aimed at intermediate learners. You will build on your existing BSL skills. If you would like to start from scratch, you can take the beginner’s BSL course.

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, 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 specialising 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 in one school can vary widely depending on necessity and amount of funding provided. This course will give you information about working as a teaching assistant (also known as a classroom assistant, a pupil support assistant, a teacher's aide, or abbreviated as a TA) and how you can provide support to teachers by providing teaching and learning support in whatever way possible.

This 9-hour course provides a foundational understanding of essential maths skills for measuring fabric accurately in garment-making. Designed for beginners, the course covers basic arithmetic, units of measurement, and practical applications in a textile context. Through hands-on activities and real-world examples, learners will gain confidence in measuring lengths, widths, and calculating fabric requirements. Perfect for aspiring tailors and hobbyists, this course ensures participants can make precise measurements, reducing material waste and enhancing the quality of their projects. Join us to develop the skills needed for successful garment creation.

In 3 introductory sessions, looking at classical antiquity, the Tudor period and the Industrial Revolution, we will learn how to analyse works of art- paintings and objects. We will focus on one object a week, building our skills of art analysis as we go. As an extension to the course, the Branch will be running a Learning Circle which students are invited to join and continue the process of analysing items of art.

This course will examine the publishing phenomenon of Nordic Noir, locating its roots in the early twentieth century, before exploring four contemporary novels from the genre. Our texts will be Doctor Glas by Hjalmar Soderberg; Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg; The Bird Tribunal - Agnes Ravatn; The Flatey Enigma - Viktor Arnor Ingolfson and Missing - Karin Alvtegen. These texts will take us inside the mind of Nordic Noir and we will evaluate the common features of the genre and its relationship with crime-fiction, horror and recent forms of Gothic literature. There will be ample scope for lively discussion in our sessions

Do you want to learn the basics of watercolours? Have you tried before and given up in frustration? Why not join this course for support and encouragement? Watercolour, simply put, is water mixed with pigment which is then applied to paper. But painting with watercolours is something entirely different. It can be complex, confusing, and fun at the same time. While not a medium to be controlled or manipulated, part of the very beauty of working with watercolours is learning to let go! Come and join us to find out more.