What is safeguarding?

The WEA provides a welcoming environment where everyone is:

• Respected,
• Valued,
• Can feel safe and secure.

This includes all:

• Learners,
• Staff,
• Members,
• Volunteers, and
• Individual visitors who access our facilities and services

What to do if I feel unsafe? What does this mean? 

Safeguarding is keeping everyone safe and away from harm. At the WEA, your tutor will discuss this during your induction session  and tell you how to report any concerns you may have. You may have concerns about the wellbeing of other individuals ( e.g. other learners, friends, or family members) which you can report. 

What is Prevent? All educational organisations have a role to play in safeguarding learners or anyone you know from becoming radicalised and being drawn into terrorism.  

Below are just some examples of safeguarding concerns: 

• Bullying, including cyberbullying  
• Domestic violence  
• Drugs  
• Faith abuse  
• Forced marriage  
• Gangs and youth violence  
• Gender-based violence   
• Homelessness 
• Mental health issues 
• Radicalisation and extremism  
• Sexting  
• Sexual harassment  

Who can I talk to if I am feeling unsafe or have a concern? 

Firstly, speak to your tutor, designated safeguarding officer or WEA member of staff. They will ensure you both have a confidential space to discuss the concern/s.  

If you are unable to speak to your tutor or a WEA member of staff, you can contact the Safeguarding Team who will offer you information and advice whilst referring you to a designated safeguarding officer.  

A SAFE1 form with your permission will be completed to record an account of the situation by the WEA member of staff you speak to.   

The Designated Safeguarding Officer will contact you via phone, Teams or arrange a 1-1 meeting to discuss your concern. They will provide advice, support, referrals for specialised support (where required) and agree with you the action you have both agreed to in dealing with the concern. The Designated Safeguarding Officer will keep in touch with you on a regular basis to ensure you are ok and progress in dealing with the safeguarding concern. 

Who to Contact 

You can contact the Safeguarding team, Zee Elaheebux and Liz Andrew Turner (National Safeguarding Managers) to report a safeguarding concern by calling 0113 2001162 or email [email protected]. This service is available Monday- Friday, 9am-5pm.  

For out of hours contact (5pm-10pm) please contact Preeya Searle on 07769 283923.  

If your life or the person in question is in danger, then you must contact the police on 999, as a matter of urgency. 

The WEA has a clear Safeguarding Policy, and procedures are reviewed each year. Staff are trained to maintain a culture of vigilance. All staff and tutors are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. 

For more information on the WEA Safeguarding Policy and Prevent Policy, visit our policies webpage. 

To support your learning, the WEA uses Canvas, a website that:

• gives information and support for your course,
• has your course materials,
• is where you submit your work.

Canvas helps you to learn via your mobile, tablet or computer. Canvas contains discussion areas, quizzes and more. Canvas is also tailored to your accessibility level.

In-venue courses and online courses both use Canvas. You will receive a link to sign up to Canvas when you book.

To learn more about Canvas click here.

Our friendly learner services team are always happy to help.

You can fill out the form on this page, and we'll be back in touch as soon as we can with you by email.

Live chat is available between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday, which you can access by clicking the 'Chat with our team' button on your screen at any time. (The chat button will not show if no chat agents are available).

Lastly, you can call us on 0300 303 3464, Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

If you have a:

• disability,
• a learning difficulty,
• a health issue, or
• other support needs

We will do our best to provide specialist staff and resources to help you succeed in your learning.

We need learners to take an Additional Learner Support (ALS) assessment. This helps us know about your needs and requirements.

Some examples of help include:

• venue accessibility
• extra help in the classroom, e.g. someone to sign, or take notes
• extra time in exams or assessments
• support with a learning need or disability
• equipment, such as hearing induction loops or magnifiers

If you need any extra support, please tell us when you book. There is a question on the online booking to tell us.

Our friendly learner services team are always happy to help.

You can fill out the form on this page, and we'll be back in touch as soon as we can with you by email.

Live chat is available between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday, which you can access by clicking the 'Chat with our team' button on your screen at any time. (The chat button will not show if no chat agents are available).

Lastly, you can call us on 0300 303 3464, Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Paying for a WEA course by instalments might be available on courses which last 40 hours or more.

How will instalments be split?

We will spread the instalment payments over 3 consecutive months.

The first payment is due at time of booking. The remaining 2 instalments are then made by:

• Direct Debit on a monthly payment date of your choosing, or
• by direct/credit card.

The WEA will not apply any charges or interest on instalment plans.

The full course fee, and any instalments left, is still due if you withdraw from a course once booked. This is unless the Course Cancellations or Refunds Policy applies. (Our policies page is found here).

Where a request for instalments isn't given, the full course fee is due within 5 working days of the decision.

Our friendly learner services team are always happy to help.

You can fill out the form on this page, and we'll be back in touch as soon as we can with you by email.

Live chat is available between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday, which you can access by clicking the 'Chat with our team' button on your screen at any time. (The chat button will not show if no chat agents are available).

Lastly, you can call us on 0300 303 3464, Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Our DLS fund is here to help

The Discretionary Learner Support (DLS) fund can help us support you with:

• tuition and examination fees
• books and equipment
• travel – we offer support for travel for exceptional circumstances
• childcare

The DLS support fund is for learners from a household income below £21,000 (this is £21,547.50 in Greater London only).

• You will need to meet residency requirements for fee remission
• You also need to prove that financial difficulties will stop you from following or completing your course.

WEA must approve any support. DLS support is a limited fund so it is not guaranteed, approval is dependent on your circumstances and DLS budgets

Below are the DLS forms, click on the button to download them. 

Each form has helpful notes which explain the eligibility and approval processes, and where to send the form once you have completed it. All forms should be completed before the course start and within two weeks of the course start date.

Our friendly learner services team are always happy to help.

You can fill out the form on this page, and we'll be back in touch as soon as we can with you by email.

Live chat is available between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday, which you can access by clicking the 'Chat with our team' button on your screen at any time. (The chat button will not show if no chat agents are available).

Lastly, you can call us on 0300 303 3464, Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

If you are:

• working, or
• self-employed, and
• studying up to and including a Level 2 qualification

Then you can be eligible for fee remission.

This does depend on your income, and where you live. If you live in the areas or Mayoral Combined Authorities listed below, this is the maximum you can earn to qualify for fee remission (fees updated for 24/25 academic year):

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority: £30,491
• Greater London Authority: £25,642.50
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority: £25,000
• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority: £33,958.60
• North East Combined Authority: £25,000
• South Yorkshire Combined Authority: £23,400
• South Yorkshire Combined Authority (Level 3 qualifications only): £30,476.96
• West Midlands Combined Authority: £32,000
• West Yorkshire Combined Authority: £25,000
• West of England Combined Authority: £23,400

If you do not live in one of the areas listed above, you qualify for ESFA funding, and your maximum is £25,000.

When you book, we will show the threshold applicable to you.

You will need to complete a Low Wage Declaration and submit proof of your income when booking.

This could be in the form of:

• a payslip dated within 3 months of the course start date, or
• a current employment contract that shows your gross salary.

If you are self-employed and on a low income you could provide :

• a copy of your latest tax return, or
• personal tax calculation/computation statement from HMRC, or
• a statement of your accounts, or
• an accountant’s letter, or
• a copy of your annual tax summary

If you are on benefits, you can also claim fee remission. Learn more here.

Our friendly learner services team are always happy to help.

You can fill out the form on this page, and we'll be back in touch as soon as we can with you by email.

Live chat is available between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday, which you can access by clicking the 'Chat with our team' button on your screen at any time. (The chat button will not show if no chat agents are available).

Lastly, you can call us on 0300 303 3464, Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Ways to qualify for fee remission

If you claim any Income Related Benefits you will be eligible for fee remission. This means you will get your course for free, or at a reduced cost.

For example:

• you claim JSA (Job Seeker's Allowance), or
• you claim ESA (Employment and Support Allowance), or
• you claim Universal Credit.

You must provide your National Insurance number when booking.

• you earn less than £494 per month (not including benefits), or
• have a joint benefit claim and earn less than £782 per month,
• you claim Council Tax Reduction, or you are dependent on someone who claims Council Tax Reduction.

This does not include a single occupancy discount.

• you claim Working Tax Credit,
• you claim Income Support,
• you claim Pension Guarantee Credit,
• you claim, or are dependent on someone who claims, Housing Benefit,
• you are claiming Asylum in the UK. You will need:
  • to have been a resident in the UK for six months or more
  • have an Application Registration Card (ARC) or Standard Acknowledgement letter (SAL)
  • a current Asylum Support Agreement from UK Visas and Immigration.

Please note: There could be other criteria based on where you live, or the course you are wanting to join. You must also meet general eligibility requirements, such as being over 19 years of age.

Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades A*-C, or 4-9. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course. Some other courses may be listed as free, please check any eligibility criteria before applying.

If you have low wages, you can also claim fee remission: Learn more here.

Our friendly learner services team are always happy to help.

You can fill out the form on this page, and we'll be back in touch as soon as we can with you by email.

Live chat is available between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday, which you can access by clicking the 'Chat with our team' button on your screen at any time. (The chat button will not show if no chat agents are available).

Lastly, you can call us on 0300 303 3464, Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.