There are more than 1000 individuals and affiliated organisations in membership of the WEA in Scotland. Members contribute to governing the work of the Association and organising and promoting WEA educational programmes in Local Associations, branches and student groups.
The Association's structure provides the benefits of a national organisation with local accountability and responsiveness.
The commitment to building core skills, including confidence, literacies, citizenship and critical understanding, is integral to all areas of our work. We are committed to equality of access to learning and give priority to providing learning for educationally, socially and economically disadvantaged groups. The ability to motivate adults to actively engage in learning is essential to the success of our work.
The WEA also takes learning into workplaces, and has developed a range of adult education in partnership with trade unions, the Scottish Enterprise Network, Local Authorities, social inclusion partnerships and employers.
Funding
We are recognised by the Scottish�Government's Further and Adult Education Division as a leading voluntary sector provider of adult education.
The WEA receives revenue grants for local education programmes from the majority of Scottish Local Authorities.
We also secure significant project funding from the Scottish Enterprise and Highland and Islands Enterprise Networks, European Union and trusts and foundations.
History
Founded in 1903 by Albert Mansbridge, the Workers' Educational Association was created to promote the higher education of working men and women at a time when few educational opportunities existed for the working class. The WEA is a national, voluntary organisation which provides adult education based on democratic principles with the help of our students and members.
In 1905, the first WEA branch was founded in Scotland in Springburn. It was followed by branches in Edinburgh in 1912, Aberdeen in 1913, Glasgow in 1916 and Dundee and Ayrshire in 1917. By the 1930s, branches and student groups numbered around 22, peaking at 42 in the wartime 1940s.
If you would like further information on the WEA or its history, please contact the WEA Scotland head office in Edinburgh.
Please download a copy of our latest Annual Report (2010/2011) by clicking here