WEA courses

The purpose of this course is to support your individual health and wellbeing and for you to gain confidence through arts and crafts. You will be given an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques from a range of different types of art and craft. For example, painting stones, glass, wood, and dream catchers. You will use a variety of different resources and medias such as wool, fabrics, and jars. You will learn about the development of the different arts and crafts that we enjoy today. You will also learn about and gain an insight into how different techniques and skills have evolved in certain crafts over time.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the history of ideas is learning how ideas have a life of their own, influencing society and culture through successive generations in different ways. In this 6-week course we’ll focus on a different important and influential question each week. We cover philosophy, literature, science and history. We’ll read and discuss selected extracts which will be circulated beforehand. The course covers a sweep of over 2000 years, from the ancient Greeks to modern times

The purpose of this course is to support your individual health and wellbeing and to help you gain confidence. You will be given an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques from a range of different types of art and craft. For example, painting stones, glass, wood, and dream catchers. You will use a variety of different resources and medias such as wool, fabrics, and jars. You will learn about the development of the different arts and crafts that we enjoy today. You will also learn about and gain insight into how different techniques and skills have evolved in certain crafts.

The purpose of the course is to support your individual health and wellbeing and to help you gain confidence. You will be given an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques from a range of different types of arts and crafts. For example, painting stones, glass, wood, and dream catchers. You will use a variety of different resources and medias such as wool, fabrics, and jars. You will learn about the development of the different arts and crafts that we enjoy today. You will learn about and gain an insight into how different techniques and skills have evolved in certain crafts.

We will consider a range of films, from classics to contemporary cinema. We will discuss the style and meaning of diverse extracts drawing on key ideas from Film Studies. We will consider films from diverse countries, comparing and contrasting these with American and British cinema. The class will be organised around discussion of selected extracts, with guidance on points to look for, including different aspects of film such as the screenplay and cinematography. Students will be encouraged to develop their responses in small groups. Case studies will be included on Alfred Hitchcock and British cinema.

We will consider a range of films, from classics to contemporary cinema. We will discuss the style and meaning of diverse extracts drawing on key ideas from Film Studies. We will consider films from diverse countries, comparing and contrasting these with American and British cinema. The class will be organised around discussion of selected extracts, with guidance on points to look for, including different aspects of film such as the screenplay and cinematography. Students will be encouraged to develop their responses in small groups. Case studies will be included on Alfred Hitchcock and British cinema.

This course is designed for individuals interested in delving into the world of textile design and construction. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this course will guide you through the process of designing and creating your own textiles and garments. You will learn the fundamentals of textile design, including pattern creation, fabric manipulation, and surface design techniques. The course will also cover garment construction, from drafting patterns to sewing and finishing your own fashion pieces. Through hands-on projects and creative exploration, participants will develop the skills needed to bring their textile and fashion ideas to life.

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. The Maldon Embroidery celebrates 1000 years of history in stitches. Find out about the ideas behind the Embroidery, who worked it and how and where this modern piece sits in a long tradition of embroidery and tapestry. We'll pick out the details on the vibrant panels to locate and tell the stories of Maldon’s past from the Battle of Maldon, through the Industrial Revolution and into the present.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the history of ideas is learning how ideas have a life of their own, influencing society and culture through successive generations in different ways. In this 10-week course we’ll focus on an different important and influential question each week. We cover philosophy, literature, science and history. We’ll read and discuss selected extracts which will be circulated beforehand. The course covers a sweep of over 2000 years, from the ancient Greeks to modern times.

A history course based on some well-known musicals. Writers of musicals often dealt with complex social, political and historical issues while also providing an entertaining show with great songs, but in this course we’ll look at some unexpected, surprising and even ill-conceived inspirations for musicals, some of which were very successful, some of which were not. The course includes the background to musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Stephen Sondheim, but also lesser-known writers whose work has become very successful and has acquired a cult following.  At the end of the course, you will be able to: - Discuss how Evita and Call Me Madam are influenced by the writers' personal viewpoints of the societies they are describing - Give examples of how fairy tale conventions are overturned in Frozen and Into The Woods - Identify some of the classic films, stories and characters that fed into horror musicals like Rocky Horror Show and Sweeney Todd. - Discuss why "bad taste" is such a prevalent feature of modern musicals, like the Producers and Little Shop of Horrors. - Identify some of the issues that caused a few of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals to fail.