What are W.E.A "What Next?" interviews?
The W.E.A. is the Workers' Educational Association, a voluntary sector educational charity (no 314001). W.E.A. "What Next?" interviews are sessions of approximately 3/4 hour duration suitable for individuals or pairs of friends who have attended a course on the W.E.A. Essex Outreach programme and who would like some extra time to explore future plans and opportunities. Students are free to sketch out which general area of development appeals to them - further learning, entry/re-entry into paid employment or exploration of the opportunities available within voluntary and community work. There is no charge for the sessions and financial help is available for childcare or other any support needed to enable a student to attend and benefit from them.
Who conducts the interviews?
The W.E.A. advisor will be a course tutor with additional qualifications in personal development and counselling. S/he will not be a professional careers advisor but will have access to information resources (including up-to-date computer programmes) and to the back up from a W.E.A. guidance specialist. S/he will be able to offer a brief, non-specialist, basic skills assessment if this would be helpful. Any advice given will be impartial and anything that is said within the sessions will be treated as confidential unless the student asks for this information to be used on their behalf (eg in a referral to another agency).
What could a student gain from one of these sessions?
Basically what is being offered is an opportunity for a student to think aloud about possible next steps in company of a tutor who is supportive, impartial, a skilled listener and who has either some advice to offer concerning practical ways forward or who will undertake to try to help find out the information needed. Students may be helped to draw up a personal, realistic and non-oppressive action plan or an outline c.v. if this is what they wish. There is no pressure to do this - or to stick to it.
What does a student need to do?
These sessions are being piloted throughout March 2001. The numbers of sessions available are limited. If a student would like to book a W.E.A. "What Next?" interview they should speak to their course tutor or ring Julia Jones in the W.E.A. outreach office (01245-231690). If you book a session, please do your best to attend or tell us if you cannot come.