WEA courses

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.

In this creative workshop, you will design unique, personalised wrapping paper using printmaking techniques with stencils. We’ll start by exploring festive motifs—like snowflakes, holly, ornaments, and stars—you will be guided to create repeating patterns that bring holiday cheer. Using vibrant seasonal colours such as reds, greens, golds, and silvers, you will learn to layer and arrange their chosen stencils to achieve bold, eye-catching designs. This hands-on experience not only teaches the basics of printmaking but also encourages personal expression, resulting in wrapping paper that adds a special, handmade touch to holiday gifts. Perfect for anyone looking to add festive flair to their presents!

On this short course we will create nature inspired Christmas cards using watercolours.

Take time out of your busy schedule and join us to stretch your imagination and transform plain Christmas bauble into fabulous designs.They will look so impressive on your Christmas tree or Christmas wreath with the added satisfaction that you made them yourself

The "ESOL Improve Your Reading Skills" course is for beginners learning English. It helps you read better and understand simple texts. You will learn new words and practice reading everyday materials like signs, forms, and short stories. The course includes fun activities to find the main idea and details in what you read. You will work alone and with others to build your skills. This course makes reading in English easier and more enjoyable for you.

All our Care2 courses are completely free for unpaid carers (or those who have previously been carers). You do not need to receive a carer's allowance to qualify. If you are unsure, please contact our call centre advisors who will be able to assist you. Would you like to learn a little British Sign language whilst singing and signing along to some favourite Christmas Carols and popular songs? This course is a follow on from the hugely popular first course that ran at the Reading Rooms last year. You do not need to have attended the first course to participate on this one. Join guest tutor Debbie Young at the Reading Rooms in Billericay on this fun and interactive one-off free course for carers, their companions, supporters e.g. volunteers/staff and former carers as part of the Care 2 delivery. If you have an interest in learning a new language but aren’t sure about signing, come along to this fun session to learn more about BSL and deaf culture.

Caravaggio’s life was as intense and significant as it was short. By the time of his untimely death at 38 years old, in 1610, he had ushered in a new aesthetic in painting, and was quickly followed by many, all over Europe. In this session, you will learn about the life and art of Caravaggio. You will also learn about Baroque art and its main features. To do so, we will not only study the works painted by Caravaggio, we will also study his followers’ works. The Italians Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi, the Naples-based Spaniard Ribera, the Flemish Rubens, the Dutch Rembrandt, and the French Georges de la Tour are some of the most famous painters influenced by Caravaggio.

This talk is of particular interest to people who have come across Trig Points on their walks and are curious to find out more about how they came to be there. We will cover some of the quirky stories relating to early map-making and then explore some even more quirky stories about the way that triangulation was introduced to Britain.

Join us on this interesting online taster, where we will look at Christmas food through the ages, the traditions that lie behind it, and how it has changed, along with a few recipes that you may (or may not) want to try. This short session is an extract from the 10-week "Cookery through the Ages" course which will run in 2024.

In this engaging workshop, participants will explore watercolour techniques to bring serene, snowy landscapes, festive wreaths, and charming winter scenes to life. Through hands-on practice, you’ll learn essential skills like blending colours for soft, atmospheric effects and layering to add depth and texture, capturing the cozy feel of the holiday season. We’ll focus on selecting colours that evoke a festive mood—cool blues and whites for frosty scenes or rich greens and reds for holiday wreaths. By the end, you will have a completed piece, whether a tranquil landscape or a vibrant wreath, perfect for seasonal decor or holiday cards.