WEA courses

Dive into the world of knitting with our 3-hour Beginner's Knitting Workshop. Designed for absolute beginners, this hands-on class covers all the essentials to get you started. You'll learn how to cast on, create knit and purl stitches, and cast off, with guidance from an experienced tutor. By the end of the workshop, you'll have the skills to start simple knitting projects and a completed sample piece to take home. Join us for a fun and relaxing introduction to knitting and discover the joy of creating handmade items. All materials will be provided for you.

Join our 3-hour Beginner's Crochet Workshop and embark on a creative journey into the world of crochet. This hands-on class is perfect for those with little to no experience in crochet. You'll start with an introduction to essential materials, including various yarns and hooks, and then learn foundational stitches such as the chain stitch, double crochet, and single crochet. Our expert tutor will guide you through basic crochet techniques, ensuring you gain the confidence to start your own projects. By the end of the workshop, you'll have the skills to create simple crochet items and a solid foundation for further exploration. All materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies.

This short course will offer you an insight into how to help support someone with their daily life and wellbeing, including people living with physical disabilities and/or mental health issues. As a support worker, you may find yourself working in a variety of settings. The day-to-day job of a support worker will differ depending on the needs of the person, or people they are supporting. The main focus is to help people, whether that is at home, at school or work, enabling them to live more independently, by offering them both physical and emotional support.

During this course you will be able to explore how Weston- Super-Mare has grown and consider the cultural influences that have led to its current livelihood. You will also get the opportunity to find out how the Victorian era and the industrial revolution influenced the influx of visitors coming to Weston-Super-Mare. But how does this town fit in with what is happening elsewhere nationally and internationally? By exploring the past of our town, we can focus on and celebrate the achievements rather than failures often associated with the town, illuminating a bigger picture on to its future.

This course is a primary guide to Dyslexia, ADHD, Autism and what it means to be Neurodivergent. It will help explain neurological difference and how variations on thinking and behaving might affect understanding, learning and communication. We will identify and examine the different traits and behaviours associated with Neurodiversity, to help answer some of the frequently asked questions surrounding neurological conditions. This course will consider how we can promote difference and help change the social systems and beliefs that are outdated and not helpful when supporting a Neurodivergent person to thrive and have better life chances, including employment.

The 8 hour Emergency First Aid at Work course consists of practical and theoretical activities. Over two days you will learn the essential skills, including numeracy and responsibilities of a first aider in the workplace. Participants will learn the critical role they play in emergency situations. You will learn the skills and knowledge to provide the organisation with Emergency First Aider's who can provide treatment to casualties in a prompt, safe and effective manner.

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.

Claude Monet once wrote “ It is extraordinary to see the sea: what a spectacle!” The Seashore offers rich material for both artists and photographers and has inspired some insightful and amusing creations. During this workshop we will explore some different approaches used by photographers, when capturing the essence of the great British seaside. We will look at the social documentary photographers David Hurn and Martin Parr, who play with colour and humour when depicting British seaside culture. Alternatively, we will consider the work of Fay Godwin, who works more intimately with the landscape itself, gathering lost objects from the beach to scan in order to produce exquisite close ups.

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.