WEA courses

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

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.

Do you regularly interact with young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? If so, studying ADHD courses could help you greatly improve the support you offer them. This equality & diversity course is especially useful for parents and carers. You will understand the ADHD brain and the difficulties faced by children and teens with ADHD.

Polish your writing skills in English. This ESOL level 2 course teaches you advanced knowledge to help you write and analyse a variety of texts in English. Improved writing skills can open doors to work and study options in the UK. This ESOL course builds on skills you learnt at level 1. Perfect your writing skills in English while practicing critical thinking. This is an English course for adyults. It is aimed at speakers of other languages. ESOL courses are divided into 3 areas: reading, writing and speaking & listening. If you are helping others access ESOL classes in the UK, you have come to the right place. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority

Christmas is here but if you don’t have room for a tree or you just want new decoration for the year try your hand at a beautiful 12 inch star created out of wooden skewers and string, Paint and then sprinkled with glitter or snow and add beautiful mini lights to make it sparkle.

Gnomes’ gnomes and more gnomes what’s not to love create Using felt and hand stitching use your imagination and create your own gnomes to match your Christmas colour scheme or personalise them for gifts. Its not an expensive project to do but can be so much fun to create