WEA (Workers Educational Association)
At a glance
Key takeaways
- This funder suits a Lancashire voluntary, community, faith or social enterprise group, or a housing association, whose project helps unemployed or inactive residents move into further education or inclusive employment, particularly in essential English, maths and digital skills.
- Organisations of any other kind should not apply, and neither should projects below £10,000 or above £40,000, since those are the limits for its Lancashire Combined County Authority Community Grants.
- Start by completing the short form that interested organisations use to register interest; if you are eligible, you will be emailed the application form and guidance.
- The programme looks for new and innovative ways of engaging residents and for skills provision that matches Lancashire's strategic priorities, so say clearly how your project does both.
- The application method is rolling, so you can apply at any point, but the joint round is a specific Community Grants round, so check that your project fits its terms.
Overview
WEA (Workers Educational Association) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1112775).
WEA (Workers Educational Association), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 1112775, exists to promote adult and general education for the benefit of the community, regionally, nationally and internationally, on democratic principles and through the participation of its voluntary members. Its annual giving was £5,282,023, according to the Charity Commission register. It now works with the Lancashire Combined County Authority to launch a Community Grants open funding round.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Through a joint Community Grants round with the Lancashire Combined County Authority, the WEA invites local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations and housing associations across Lancashire's boroughs to seek funding for local projects. The projects are intended to mobilise disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive residents towards further education and inclusive employment. Supported delivery can be tailored, unaccredited skills learning suited to residents' needs. The programme seeks new and innovative engagement and further skills provision aligned with the authority's strategic priorities: economically inactive residents; 19–24 year olds; essential English, maths and digital skills; redundancy support; Connect to Work and Bootcamps; and residents in the most deprived wards. It focuses on locally delivered opportunities for residents to progress into further education and inclusive employment.
Themes
- Essential skills
- Inclusive employment
Geographic Focus
Lancashire.
What they don't fund
- Lancashire Combined County Authority Community Grants 2026-27 only: Project applications below £10,000 or above £40,000; Organisations other than local VCFSE organisations and Housing Associations across the 14 Lancashire boroughs
How to apply
Interested organisations complete a short form; if eligible, they are emailed the application form and guidance.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- The programme seeks new and innovative ways of engaging residents and aligns skills provision with Lancashire's Strategic Priorities.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to WEA (Workers Educational Association).
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 July 2021 | £30,309,000 | £25,455,000 | £3,713,936 | Accounts for year to 31 July 2021 |
| year to 31 July 2022 | £28,487,000 | £27,660,000 | £1,925,000 | Accounts for year to 31 July 2022 |
| year to 31 July 2023 | £27,475,000 | £26,121,000 | £1,794,940 | Accounts for year to 31 July 2023 |
| year to 31 July 2024 | £32,705,088 | £28,746,513 | £2,045,203 | Accounts for year to 31 July 2024 |
| year to 31 July 2025 | £27,413,000 | £26,675,000 | £5,282,023 | Accounts for year to 31 July 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, all years: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- wea.org.uk
- wea.org.uk/lancscommgrants · read on 31 October 2026
- wea.org.uk/about-us/contact-us · read on 31 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 July 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 31 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to WEA (Workers Educational Association)?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0300 303 3464source
- LCCACommunityGrants@wea.ac.uksource
- WEA, First Floor, Coach Works, 21 The Calls, Leeds, LS2 7EHsource
- wea.org.uk
- Contact form
- Apply online
Applying to WEA (Workers Educational Association)?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0300 303 3464source
- LCCACommunityGrants@wea.ac.uksource
- WEA, First Floor, Coach Works, 21 The Calls, Leeds, LS2 7EHsource
- wea.org.uk
- Contact form
- Apply online