WEA courses

As built, canals linked towns and cities with the remote corners of the English countryside. Built largely to carry coal to fuel the Industrial Revelation, they are used today for pleasure purposes. Canals offer the opportunity to improve health and wellbeing, whether walking along the towpath or travelling along in a barge. Come and join this illustrated course where you will develop your historical / technical skills by finding and exploring a number of sources about the canals. Your tutor will guide you towards sources which provide information on the physical design of your local canal, the industry it was built to serve and the individuals who worked tirelessly to make a living. There will be a study of the Trent & Mersey, Peak Forest and Somersetshire Coal Canals, together with a review of the impact on the canals of the Napoleonic War. The course will look at some of the features of canals, such as Bridges, Tunnels, Aqueducts, Reservoirs, Gauging Docks, Weighing Machines, Gauging Stations and Winding Holes. This course is suitable for learners with a previous knowledge of the subject To note down key points, it is suggested that you bring a notebook.

Explore how cooking can improve your mental and physical health with this course. Learn nutritious recipes, meal planning, prepping techniques, and smart shopping tips. Discover how to make healthy, budget-friendly choices that enhance your wellbeing. Understand the connection between food and mood, and enjoy making healthy choices in a supportive environment.

Enhance your well-being through writing with our Creative Writing for Wellbeing course. Learn techniques for using creative writing as a tool for self-expression and emotional healing. Ideal for individuals looking to improve their mental health through writing.

This course is designed to build on the work developed during the course last term and aims to support those who have either attended the previous course, or have some experience of crafting, and wish to continue to learn more techniques and skills to move forward to develop arts and crafts skills. Where appropriate, you will look at the history behind the development of the different art and craft skills and techniques, together with their popularity and trends. During this friendly course, you will learn how to use a variety of different resources and medias such as card, canvas, wool, fabric, glass and wood.

This 6-week course equips you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the world of mental health. You'll explore the mental health continuum, identify common conditions like stress, anxiety, depression, and OCD, and learn how to support yourself and others.

The awareness of the importance of counselling for the wellbeing of individuals is increasingly recognised as a key issue for the overall health and prosperity of our society. This course will support learners to explore the basics of counselling, the nature of the profession and how skills in counselling can support positive interactions in the workplace. This course focuses on an understanding of the concept and practice of the main practical counselling skills and the theories underpinning these. The course is aimed at anyone who may be considering either a career or further learning in counselling, as well as those wanting to develop valuable helping and listening skills and self-awareness.

This course will enable you to consider your mental health and ways to stabilise and self-regulate your wellbeing. You will learn about different strategies that can help you re-balance and boost your self-esteem through positive action. The 5 ways to wellbeing is a national programme, which suggests there are five key things you can do each day to improve your overall mental and physical health. These include being more active, practising mindfulness, learning new things, and giving back to others. This course encourages connection with others and how to talk and reflect on ways to have a happier and healthier life!

Explore the therapeutic benefits of arts and crafts with our Art Practical: Progression Arts and Crafts for Health and Wellbeing course. Ideal for individuals looking to enhance their well-being through creativity.

Explore essential skills for managing your family’s digital safety, personal finances, and family wellbeing. This course empowers participants to protect their families online, manage finances digitally, and leverage technology for overall family wellness. The internet is vast and fast moving and often our children are more tech savy, this course will cover how you can manage what your children can access in order to increase their safety. The course will also cover a range of digital tools that can help you keep track of your personal budget at the click of a button as well as exploring what applications and sites can have a positive influence on family wellbeing.

Have you ever seen weaving and wondered how to get started and wanted to try your hand at it? On this course you will discover that it is possible to make a loom from a variety of materials, even from something as simple as a piece of card, a branch, etc. You will also explore how to use more than just wool to weave with and how to prepare alternative materials for weaving. You will gain knowledge about how threads are interlaced to create a woven fabric and what the different threads are called and how to use them to create patterns and texture in piece of woven textile art. You will also discover how weaving can be beneficial to your health, helping you to “be in the moment” and create a calming environment.