Free courses for carers

At the WEA, we recognise the importance of unpaid carers and caregivers, with over 5.7 million people taking on caring responsibilities. We understand that it's important for you to take time out for self-care. This is especially true if you are caring for children with special needs or a family member with disabilities.  

Taking care of yourself helps you to provide support for your loved ones. So it's important to remember to make time for your own wellbeing while balancing your caregiving responsibilities. 

Jump to courses.

Designed to fit around your care responsibilities

We have designed our courses for carers to fit in with your needs. They are all online, so there is no need to travel, and our tutors understand that sometimes you need to take a break from your responsibilities. 

All our courses for carers (or those who have previously been carers) are completely free. You do not need to receive a carer's allowance. If you are unsure if you qualify, call our friendly learner services team on 0300 303 3464 and they can help. 

WEA: working in partnership with Carers UK

Carers UK is both a supportive community and a movement for change, and partners with the WEA to provide courses for carers. Carers UK's website provides a wide range of information and guidance on all aspects of caring including practical and financial support, work and careers, health and wellbeing, tools, guides and much more. Visit their website at

For information and signposting, their telephone helpline is available. To learn more visit . 

Carers UK membership is free, and members receive monthly email newsletters, our quarterly Caring magazine and can join our supportive online forum, Carers Connect. You are welcome to join at  

Find time for your interests

We want our courses to help you make time for yourself and explore your own interests. Our courses include: 

  • health and wellbeing for carers to help you manage your own health and stress 
  • virtual visits to stately homes, so you can visit wonderful places around the UK from the comfort of your living room.   

You can pick and mix these courses; we want you to enjoy as many as possible. Add any courses you are interested in attending to the basket and you’ll only need to book once.

Please enter your postcode

In order for us to give you accurate results for your courses, please click on the Search options and enter your postcode and the mile radius for your search.

Refine search

How you'll learn

Your location

Please enter your postcode or town for your search in the boxes below.

We have defaulted the search to ten miles, but you can change this number in the box as you wish.

Sort by start date

Choose to sort the course start date in ascending order (furthest away dates first) or descending (most recent dates first)

Results per page

Days

Other Filters

Part of day
Level of study
Availability

Care 2: Make a Teacup Planter

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 make a lovely Christmas tea cup planter for a friend or loved one? Something a little different and unusual for that special person. Nothing says you care like a homemade gift and this short one-off session with experienced gardener Debbie Young, will demonstrate and allow you to make a tea cup planter as a perfect and personal gift. So, join us at the Reading Rooms in Billericay for this fun and informative one-off free course for carers, their companions, volunteers and former carers as part of the Care 2 delivery. You may wish to bring a box to take your gift home in safely.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 19/11/2024 -
Tue 19/11/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Billericay Reading Rooms (Billericay)
73 High Street
Billericay
CM12 9AS
Tutor:
Deborah Young
Course code:
Q00019594
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Care 2: Try relaxation techniques for stress management

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. Modern society is often fast - paced causing many of us to feel overwhelmed and stressed, learning to relax is an effective tool to support stress management. This course is suitable for anyone - if you want to learn how to really relax, this course is ideal for you, and you are encouraged to join. You will learn to recognise how simple relaxation techniques can help you to relieve your own symptoms of stress. You will be guided through the practice of calming breathing techniques and gentle movements that ease tension in the body. Each session will end with a guided Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation practice) that will encourage deep rest of both mind and body.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 21/11/2024 -
Thu 28/11/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018563
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Care 2: Staying calm at Christmas

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. If you find Christmas stressful, why not treat yourself or a loved one to a gift of health and wellbeing? Have you ever been interested in helping yourself holistically? This course will take you through the fascinating art of reflexology where we will explore the roots and history of this amazing subject.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 02/12/2024 -
Mon 02/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 11:30am
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Georgia Daniel
Course code:
Q00019075
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Care 2: Sign along Christmas Carols

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. ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ 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.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/12/2024 -
Tue 10/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Billericay Reading Rooms (Billericay)
73 High Street
Billericay
CM12 9AS
Tutor:
Deborah Young
Course code:
Q00019596
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Care 2: Staying calm at Christmas

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. If you find Christmas stressful, why not treat yourself or a loved one to a gift of health and wellbeing? Have you ever been interested in helping yourself holistically? This course will take you through the fascinating art of reflexology where we will explore the roots and history of this amazing subject.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 16/12/2024 -
Mon 16/12/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Georgia Daniel
Course code:
Q00019076
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Care 2 : Guided Relaxation to support Mental Wellbeing

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. Leading a busy life leaves little room for calm and relaxation. This can make it hard for us to wind down and enjoy the present. But finding these moments of calm is essential for our emotional well-being and mental health. This short course will support you to improve your mental well-being through guided relaxation practice. You will develop your ability to calm the mind by learning to physically relax your body using body scanning and mindful movement. You will learn to calm the mind through breathing practices and mindfulness practice. You will learn to encourage deep rest of mind and body through guided Yoga Nidra practice and soothing visualisation.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 16/01/2025 -
Thu 30/01/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Nicola Bailey
Course code:
Q00018567
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free