WEA courses

Empower yourself with practical skills to manage your money, make savvy shopping decisions, and master the art of budgeting with our Money Management Essentials course. Explore everyday scenarios like comparing prices, optimizing transportation costs, and meal planning, gaining insights to navigate personal finance confidently. With interactive lessons, practical exercises, and flexible learning, this short course is tailored for beginners and those seeking to refine their financial literacy. Join us on the path to financial empowerment and take control of your financial future today!

During this course you will be invited to consider how we handle potential landfill materials and waste, depending on how they can be used. You will learn how to transform an old product into something which has a greater value than the original, by re-working and decorating throw away objects transforming them into new and usable plant pots and/or garden decorations. At the end of the course, your new upcycled products will be placed outside, at the back of the Hub, to also uplift the environment and replenish the space for the enjoyment and benefit of all.

Bring your imagination to life! This stop motion animation course guides you through the exciting world of creating animated stories frame by frame. Learn practical techniques, explore storytelling elements, and discover the magic of bringing characters and objects to life on screen. We will explore a variety of content including the principles of stop motion animation, from storyboarding to character creation. We will explore how to nbring the ideas to life and look into the post-production magic too. **This interactive course features engaging video demonstrations, step-by-step tutorials, and creative prompts to spark your imagination. Whether you're a hobbyist or aiming for a career in animation, this course is your launchpad to explore the world of stop motion animation!

Our creative arts courses will get you working with pastels and charcoals, exploring what creative pieces you can achieve. In this course develop your own style of drawing in this welcoming safe space. This class will encourage you to challenge your skills and build on your love of art. Bring your favourite materials or use the resources provided and express yourself in this friendly and warm setting. This tutor has years of art experience and is very popular with out learners. The venue offers a friendly atmosphere and even a free lunch prior to the course beginning.

Numerous studies have shown that creative activities, such as art, writing and music, can help reduce and even prevent stress. You may find that, after a stressful day, enjoying a hobby can help you to de-stress and even give you an energy boost. This friendly course will help you that being creative may also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression and can help you to express or manage your emotions in a positive and productive way. Especially when those feelings are difficult to put into words. This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore new and uplifting creative activities, and also give you the chance to socialise and connect with others who share the same interest. If you like the idea of making art in a calm and friendly environment, whilst also taking part in group activities and meeting new people, this is the right course for you!

Learn to draw a realistic portrait of the human face from a photograph. This full day workshop is designed for complete beginners but also caters for those with some drawing experience who wish to develop their skills further. You will draw from a photograph and learn how to build a likeness from broad shapes through to more refined features using a chalk and charcoal. This workshop is an excellent first step before you begin to draw from a live model. You will be guided and supported throughout the day and the techniques that you learn during the workshop will equip you to create your own portrait drawings at home.

Welcome to the transformative journey into the art of Tunisian crochet at St. Mary's Pontefract. Students will master advanced stitches, including lace and bobble stitch using the swatches made to create a scarf or cowl to keep warm in the winter. In addition to honing their crochet skills, the course emphasises combatting social isolation through a supportive crochet community. Through shared experiences and meaningful connections, participants will experience improved social and emotional wellbeing.

Join us for a creative Card Making course at Parkstone Connect, a vibrant day centre dedicated to adults with learning difficulties. Our welcoming environment fosters creativity and fun. Participants will explore a variety of card-making techniques, including stamping, embossing, and die-cutting, to craft beautiful, personalized cards. Led by experienced tutors, the course provides all materials and offers step-by-step guidance, ensuring everyone can enjoy the process and create stunning cards to share with loved ones. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a complete beginner, our supportive community is here to help you unleash your artistic potential.

This course is tailored for beginner to intermediate artists looking to develop their skills with charcoal. Participants will learn various techniques for using charcoal in their artwork, including shading, blending, and creating textures. Through guided exercises and projects, students will explore the expressive potential of charcoal, enhancing their ability to create dynamic and compelling drawings. By the end of the course, students will have a portfolio of completed charcoal drawings that demonstrate their growth and understanding of the medium. This course offers a supportive and encouraging environment for artists to explore the dynamic possibilities of charcoal, fostering both technical skill development and creative expression.

Expressionism is a key art movement of the early 20th century, which developed from 1905 in Germany and Austria. In this session, you will learn about one of the Expressionist groups, The Blue Rider. Centred around Munich and Murnau, the artists of this group developed a colourful and free style of painting. Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Gabriele Munter, Alexei von Jawlensky, Marianne von Werefkin, August Macke and Paul Klee used strong colours and boldly simplified forms to express themselves. If you have ever wondered what is Expressionism, how it started and developed, and why these artists painted in such a way, this course is for you!