Learners from Bedford or Central Beds can access course in both areas.
English in the Community
This course helps learners develop their English language skills and improve all areas of reading, writing, and spoken English to help build confidence within the community. Suitable for English for Speakers of Other Languages learners from Pre-Entry-Entry Level 2.
Learn how to:
• Understand diverse ways to greet people
• Understand form filing
• Recognise common and social safety signs
• Understand social situations within the community
• Develop reading skills
• Develop writing skills
• Develop speaking and listening skills
Learners who complete this course have the option to progress onto our Level 2 and Level 3 English courses.
When: 6 weeks – 2 days a week
Spoken English in the Community (Online)
This course helps learners develop their English language skills and improve all areas of reading, writing, and spoken English to help build confidence within the community. Suitable for English for Speakers of Other Languages learners from Pre-Entry-Entry Level 2.
Learn how to:
• Understand diverse ways to greet people
• Recognise common and social safety signs
• Understand social situations within the community
• Develop speaking and listening skills
Learners who complete this course have the option to progress onto our Level 2 course.
When: 6 Weeks – 3 days a week
Computer Skills for Beginners (Level 1)
This course helps learners with little or no IT skills to familiarise themselves with using the internet and a computer, keyboard, and mouse.
Learn how to:
• Use cyber & e-safety
• Use storage
• Logon to a computer, create and save documents
• Use the internet to access online support & services
• Set up and use an email account
• Communicate using social media and zoom
• Use IT for personal wellbeing
Learners who complete this course have the option to progress onto our Level 2 course.
When: 4 weeks – 2 days a week
Computer Skills for Beginners (Level 2)
This course helps learners further develop their skills to intermediate level after completing their Level 1 course.
Learn how to:
• Use cyber & e-safety
• Develop digital competence
• Build information and data literacy
• See where messages and emails are stored
• Know how technologies and media can enable different forms of participation
• Know about ethical issues in digital media
When: 4 weeks – 2 days a week
Developing CVs and Covering Letters Workshop
This workshop explores the latest tips and strategies for creating and maintaining a powerful CV and covering letter. Learn where and how to search to find potential job leads and develop strategies for ongoing job search success.
Learn how to:
• Practical strategies for a powerful CV
• Tailoring a CV & cover letter for different jobs
• Incorporating your own journey into a CV
When: Various dates throughout the year. 1 session, 3 hours long.
Interview Skills Workshop
This workshop will aim to build and develop knowledge and techniques necessary to performing effectively in interviews.
Learn how to:
• Understand different types of interviews
• Effectively prepare for an interview
• Understand what an employer is looking for from candidates
• Understand ways to answer different styles of interview questions
• Identify methods for improving body language and confidence
When: Various dates throughout the year. 1 session, 3 hours long.
Progressing into Work
The course helps learners furthest from employment with a focus on positive psychology and building confidence. We’ll cover refining CVs, mock interviews, and potential opportunities for employment.
Learn how to:
• Understand health, safety and welfare issues
• Improve mental health and wellbeing
• Identify strengths and areas of development
• Identify internal and external barriers to work
• Create SMART goals to overcome barriers
• Complete a CV template
• Identify job/volunteering pathways
• Have a clear action plan for “what next?”
When: 6 Weeks – 2 days a week
Women Returners
The course helps women-only learners with a focus on positive psychology and building confidence. We’ll cover refining CVs, mock interviews, and potential opportunities for employment.
Learn how to:
• Understand health, safety and welfare issues
• Improve mental health and wellbeing
• Identify strengths and areas of development
• Identify internal and external barriers to work
• Create SMART goals to overcome barriers
• Complete a CV template
• Identify job/volunteering pathways
• Have a clear action plan for “what next?”
Staying Well
This course helps learners boost their wellbeing and build resilience through positive psychology, covering the 5 ways to wellbeing, mindfulness, setting &
achieving goals, values & beliefs, sleep, stress, energy and anger management, the power of people, growth mindsets, and letting go of worry.
Learn how to:
• Understand ways to manage stress and anxiety
• Know what mindfulness is & how to use it to stay well
• Understand how to build resilience and positivity
• Develop ways to improve self-esteem and wellbeing
• Understand what change is
When: 4 weeks – 2 days a week
This course is also available online.
We deliver [some] courses on behalf of the Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Service (BESS), part of Central Bedfordshire Council, who provide us with funding. Courses are targeted to support residents in gaining skills relevant to the needs of employers in Bedfordshire or to meet health and well-being needs. Courses are free of charge, subject to eligibility criteria. For more information about the full range of courses and support provided by BESS click here.
