WEA courses

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

Develop confidence to read advanced texts in English. This ESOL course teaches you different reading techniques and helps expand your vocabulary. Learn how to improve your reading skills to get the most out of living in the UK. This ESOL level 1 reading course builds on skills you learnt at entry 3. You’ll continue to learn about different styles of text and gain tools to interpret them. This is an English course for adults. It is aimed at speakers of other languages. ESOL courses are divided into three areas: reading, writing, and speaking & listening. If you’re helping others find ESOL courses in the UK, you’ve come to the right place.

Here at the WEA we believe in bringing education within reach of everyone. Our maths for work course is designed to give everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the essential numeracy skills they need to succeed at any age. This course is aimed at employed people looking to improve their Maths skills to help them at work. We want to help people to improve their ability to understand and use maths in daily life. This Maths for work course is an opportunity to learn new skills to support you no matter what role you play in work. You will be able to understand how to use new maths skills to support you in your career progression but these skills can also be used to support your children's homework, along with managing finances and using Maths in daily life at home too.

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.

This Multiply Maths for Work course, is designed to help you build confidence in everyday math skills. You'll learn how to solve practical problems using basic math, like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. We'll cover topics such as working with percentages, fractions, and measurements, all with real-life examples. The course is perfect for those who want to improve their math for work, study, or daily tasks. By the end, you'll feel more prepared to tackle math in real-world situations. This course is suitable for beginners and anyone needing a refresher.

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.

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.