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about Horley WEA
Horley WEA has been offering programmes of courses in the Horley area for over 40 years. With the WEA you have an opportunity to study and enjoy a wide variety of subjects and to expand your range of interests. Our main programme starts in September each year, with a smaller number of courses commencing in the New Year and after Easter.

how does it work?
The WEA is a voluntary charitable organisation and the Horley programme of courses (like those of other WEA branches throughout the country) is planned, organised and run by local voluntary members, with the backing of a professional staff which enables us to draw on a wide range of quality tutors.

about our courses
At our courses you will find
* a well-qualified tutor
* a friendly group
* no previous knowledge of the subject is needed. The only requirement for joining is that you have an interest in the subject. The courses are open to all adults
* you are welcome to sample a meeting without being under any obligation to enrol
* the content of the course may be adapted to a certain extent to fit with members' particular interests.
Note that there is no charge to enrol in courses of more than 5 meetings length if you are in receipt of certain state benefits, or if you are dependent on someone in receipt of them - see Joining a Course.

our programme this year
Sadly, we are now no longer able to offer any courses in partnership with a university, which we did for many years. As ever, our programme this year has been planned to cater for a wide variety of interests and to offer study opportunities of a kind not otherwise available in the area. Some courses - among them literature and art - continue to explore new areas of topics offered in previous years and the course on the Holy Land is among the new subjects this year.

Enjoy!
 

the WEA - the wider context
In 2003 the Workers' Educational Association celebrated the centenary of its foundation by Albert Mansbridge. Following its foundation, the WEA grew rapidly and attracted funding for its activities from universities and from government both national and local. The WEA is Britain's major voluntary adult education organisation.

Horley WEA is one of almost 600 WEA branches throughout the country, each of which is run by voluntary members who plan and organise their branch's programme of courses. Nationally, the WEA operates through nine Regions, each with its own core of professional staff which has among its responsibilities advice and support for the branches, development of panels of qualified tutors, employment of tutors and the maintenance of educational standards. This work of the branches accounts for just under one half of the total work of the WEA.

Almost as large is the WEA's programme of courses in the community which is mostly planned and organised by the professional staff in the various regions. This is aimed particularly towards people who are at a disadvantage socially and educationally - target groups include homeless people, unwaged adults, those with learning difficulties, refugees and asylum seekers, ethnic minority groups ..., while the courses include, but are by no means limited to, English for Speakers of other Languages, literacy, numeracy, introductory IT courses and family learning. An essential aspect of this part of the WEA's programme is working in partnership with a wide range of local community and other organisations.

Another part of the WEA's programme recruits its students from the workplace, either through trade unions or in partnership with employers and unions. This part of the WEA's provision focuses particularly on lower paid workers in both the public and private sectors.
 

the WEA - some fact and figures
* a national voluntary organisation
* a registered charity
* most WEA courses are financially supported by the Skills Funding Agency
* almost 600 local branches
* over 100,000 adult student enrolments each year
* 2000 learning locations throughout the country
* 400 staff + 4500 course tutors
* annual income over £30 million

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