Community Outreach - Buckinghamshire Adult Learning

Community Outreach

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning > Community Outreach

Community Outreach

Who are we?

We want everyone to be able to learn new skills and develop their confidence through our courses and workshops.

We listen carefully to what you would like to learn and support you to find the right courses to help you achieve your goals. You might be looking to learn or build on employability skills, or learn to manage your health and wellbeing.

You do not need any prior qualifications to enrol on our courses and we will support you to learn effectively. Please make sure that you let us know if you have a disability or any issue that might affect your ability to learn so that we can help you.

Please do not worry about coming back to learning if you have not been in a classroom for a long time. We understand that adults learn differently to children and our classes are small and very supportive. Even if you did not enjoy school, we are sure that you will enjoy learning now! Many learners enrol on more than one course with us.

We set up short courses throughout the year and develop new ideas all the time. Current courses (delivered by remote learning) include:

Spring 2022 Courses

Online Employability Workshops

Join our *FREE Employability Skills Workshops

9.30 to 12.30 on the dates below

  • 18 January – Job searching online
  • 25 January – CV writing
  • 1 February – Completing application forms
  • 8 February – Preparing for interviews
  • 15 February – Video interviews

Contact us ASAP to book your place as spaces are limited!
We can help you access the online workshop if you need advice.
These workshops will be held online via Google Meet. You will also receive some one-to-one telephone support from the tutor at a time to be agreed.
You don’t need to attend all the workshops, just choose the one/s you feel will be most beneficial.

*Funding is targeted to support people who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend adult learning courses, including those on low incomes, jobseekers and others referred by community partner organisations.

For more information or to enrol, please call/text:

Debbie Garwood 07770 802497 – debbie.garwood@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

James Keen 07827 986448 – james.keen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Foundation Digital Skills

Free IT Courses for Beginners
Starting Monday 28 February| 9.30-12.30
Quarrendon ALC, Holman Street, Aylesbury HP19 9LJ

Starting Wednesday 2 March | 9.30-12.30
Chesham ALC, Chartridge Lane, Chesham HP5 2RG

Starting Thursday 3 March | 9.30-12.30
Millbrook ALC, Mill End Road, High Wycombe HP12 4B

Improve your digital skills in a friendly and supportive environment

To find out more and to enrol please contact: Debbie Garwood: 07770 802497 or debbie.garwood@buckinghamshire.gov.uk (Chesham and Aylesbury) or James Keen: 07827 986448
james.keen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk (High Wycombe)

Digital Drop-ins

Are you struggling to use a computer? Or would you just like to use our computers and free wifi?

Come along to one of our free, weekly digital drop-in sessions at Quarrendon Adult Learning Centre, Aylesbury or Millbrook Adult Learning Centre, High Wycombe.

Starting Monday 10 January | 1-3pm
Quarrendon ALC, Holman Street, Aylesbury HP19 9LJ

Starting Wednesday 12 January | 12-2pm
Millbrook ALC, Mill End Road, High Wycombe HP12 4B

Use our computers or bring your own device. Support is available if you need it.

To further information please contact: Debbie Garwood: 07770 802497 or debbie.garwood@buckinghamshire.gov.uk 

New Horizons - Are your English, Maths or IT skills holding you back?

Improve your English, Maths and IT skills and discover your next steps.

Free 6 week basic skills course.

Start date: Monday 10 January, 12.45 -3.45pm
Venue: Chesham Adult Learning Centre (Chiltern Hills Academy), Chartridge Lane, Chesham HP5 2RG

For more information or to enrol, please call/text:

Debbie Garwood 07770 802497 – debbie.garwood@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Start date: Wednesday 12 January, 12-3pm
Venue: Millbrook Adult Learning Centre, High Wycombe HP12 4BA

For more information or to enrol, please call/text:

James Keen, 07827 986448 or james.keen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Start date: Thursday 13 January, 12.45 -3.45pm
Venue: Quarrendon Adult Learning Centre, Holman Street, Aylesbury. HP19 9LJ

For more information or to enrol, please call/text:

Debbie Garwood 07770 802497 – debbie.garwood@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Contact us ASAP to book your place as spaces are limited!
*Funding is targeted to support people who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend adult learning courses, including those on low incomes, jobseekers and others referred by community partner organisations.

Write Better, Feel Better

A *free, six-week, course

Monday 10 January – 14 February at Millbrook Adult Learning Centre, High Wycombe

Monday 28 February – 4 April at Millbrook Adult Learning Centre, High Wycombe

  • Develop your skills in creative writing and identify how writing can improve your wellbeing.
  • Recognise how to generate ideas for stories and characters
  • Identify how creative writing can improve your mood and outlook
  • Demonstrate the skills to communicate in a small group, with support
  • Find your personal writing strengths.

*Funded for targeted adults 19 years or over who meet UK residency requirements and who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend adult learning courses, including those on low incomes, jobseekers and others referred by community partner organisations.

Please note that the course can only run if at least six people attend regularly.

For more information or to enrol, please call/text James Keen on 07827 986448 or james.keen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Building Confidence Through Effective Communication

A *free, six-week, online course

Wednesday 12 January — 16 February 2022| 09:30 – 12:30

Learn through face-to-face online video sessions in a small group via Google Meet.

The course aims to develop your skills in communication and be able to identify how to develop your own confidence.

  • Recognise what confidence means to you personally and identify your strengths
  • Demonstrate the skills to communicate confidently in a group
  • Recognise ways to practise effective communication skills
  • Recognise how good communication helps build supportive relationships

*Funded for targeted adults 19 years or over who meet UK residency requirements and who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend adult learning courses, including those on low incomes, jobseekers and others referred by community partner organisations.

Please note that the course can only run if at least six people attend regularly.

For more information or to enrol, please call/text James Keen on 07827 986448 or james.keen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Managing Stress and Anxiety with Mindfulness Techniques

Start date: Wednesday 2 March – 6 April 2022 | 9:30 – 12:30 | Six, free* sessions

The course aims to develop your skills in communication and be able to identify how to develop your own confidence.

  • Identify when you feel stressed
  • Recognise how to stay calm in a difficult situation
  • Explain how to address a difficult topic with someone
  • Recognise how to use mindfulness as a technique to manage stress

Contact us ASAP to book your place as spaces are limited!
*Funding is targeted to support people who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend adult learning courses, including those on low incomes, jobseekers and others referred by community partner organisations.

Please note that the course can only run if at least six people attend regularly.

For more information or to enrol, please call/text:

Debbie Garwood 07770 802497 – debbie.garwood@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

James Keen 07827 986448 – james.keen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Wellbeing for Women

Start date: Monday 10 January – 14 February 2022 | 9:30 – 12:30 |

Monday 28 February – Monday 4 April 2022 | 9:30 – 12:30 |

Six, free* sessions

  • Would you like to feel calmer and more confident?
  • Do you wish you slept better at night?
  • Would you like to have a clearer mind and feel more positive?
  • Create a healthy routine and set yourself some clear goals?

This short course is designed in a holistic way to help you improve your wellbeing

Contact us ASAP to book your place as spaces are limited!
*Funding is targeted to support people who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend adult learning courses, including those on low incomes, jobseekers and others referred by community partner organisations.

“A very worthwhile and valuable course to have completed in improving my wellbeing and self-help.”

Please note that the course can only run if at least six people attend regularly.

For more information or to enrol, please call/text:

Debbie Garwood 07770 802497 – debbie.garwood@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

James Keen 07827 986448 – james.keen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Distance Online Learning

Our distance learning courses are a new way for you to learn online. Choose from a wide range of subjects and improve your employability skills or develop your personal skills and professional knowledge. Find out more.

Sector Work-based Academy Programmes

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning work in partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions to deliver SWAPs or Sector-based Work Academy Programmes.

These intensive courses aim to give jobseekers the skills and confidence to apply for jobs in specific industries such as Hospitality, the Civil Service, Rail, Adult Social Care and roles in Business Administration across different sectors.

SWAPs normally include a work experience placement or a guest speaker from an employer who has job vacancies. Some SWAPs include a guaranteed interview but if this is not offered, jobseekers are given support with the job application process. While you’re not guaranteed to get a job from completing a SWAP, it does help you to improve your chances of gaining employment in that sector.

The content and length of each course varies depending on whether it includes a qualification.

Some courses are delivered 100% online, some are face-to-face in a classroom or a mixture of both. Some are delivered directly by Buckinghamshire Adult Learning and some are delivered by our subcontractors.

If you are looking to change or boost your career, please contact your Work Coach who can support you apply for a place.

Find out more here.

Group of learners with certificates

Our aim

Our aim is to help raise your confidence and feel less isolated so that you feel able to progress onto further learning or employment. Our learners often say that our courses help them be more confident, meet new people, become a volunteer, get a qualification or even get a job.

Community Outreach Team

Debbie Garwood, Community Outreach Officer Debbie.Garwood@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

James Keen, Community Outreach Officer james.keen@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Christine Frost, Regional Co-ordinator, Outreach 07921 404780 christine.frost@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Partnership Work

We work with a wide range of organisations including Jobcentre Plus, Adviza, supported housing organisations, food banks, mental health services, charities, and local community groups for all ages and they refer people to our courses. We often create new bespoke workshops and courses for particular organisations to help people improve their lives through learning. e.g. Budgeting, Cookery, Communication Skills for Volunteers, Confidence Building and Stress Management. Please contact us to find out how we can help you, your clients or your volunteers.

100% of partners surveyed in 2018/19 said that they would recommend Buckinghamshire Adult Learning as an education provider.

Next Steps

At the end of every course your tutor will give you feedback on your progress and achievement. We talk to you individually about what you want to do next – maybe you would like advice on getting a qualification in maths, English or digital skills with Buckinghamshire Adult Learning. Or maybe you would like to talk to a careers advisor about possible volunteering or job opportunities. We work closely with Adviza to offer you the support that is right for you.

Click on these links for further information on English, maths and Digital Skills courses.

Information on Building Futures

Information on the National Careers Service

Job Clubs

Oasis Job Club comes to the Bagnall Project, Chesham

Every Thursday between 10.30 and 13.30pm

  • The team at the Bagnall Project will be providing sign posting and assistance for job seekers.
  • Advice on CVs, job applications, benefit support, courses to build confidence and skills, plus in these difficult times genuine support.
  • Call Howard on 07857 617565 or contact on Howard.newlands@oasispartnership.org for more details or an appointment

Vale of Aylesbury Housing Job Club

Are you currently looking for work?

Join us for Job Club – whether you need help and advice, or just some moral support, we can help you with the search for work.

Our sessions are a great place to find up-to-date details of jobs in the area and job-hunting guidance. We’ll even provide free access to the internet and refreshments.

Job Club is open to anyone, you do not have to be a Trust resident.

If you need some more information, just email jobclub@vaht.co.uk.

Buckingham Job Club

Call us and we’ll agree a time and place to meet virtually or by phone in order to help you to return to employment. If you’re not sure what you want to do we’ll discover the skills you have and where they can be used to your advantage.

We’ll show you how to fine tune your CV to give you the edge when you apply for jobs. We can run a practice interview with you to give you confidence and help you to enhance your skills.

For those people who struggle with IT we can help them to get online to search for vacancies and to make online applications.

Call 07770 380717

Careers Springboard

A free job club for Managers, Professionals and Graduates actively seeking work.

Careers Springboard is a registered charity which offers help and support during your job search. We provide free employment support services for people living in the Chilterns, South Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas, but also welcome people from further afield.

What our learners say about us

“The pressure-free, motivating, encouraging, informative, friendly and supportive input afforded to all students by our tutor, was second to none.”

“A very worthwhile and valuable course to have completed in improving my wellbeing and self- help.”

“I enjoyed the course thoroughly. The class teacher was fantastic at delivering relevant tools that we all need on a day to day basis. I’m optimistic about the future as before I didn’t know if I was coming or going. Thank you Buckinghamshire Adult Learning.”

“The tutor is brilliant and made me feel very welcome.”

“I must admit, I’ve really enjoyed linking up with other people via the internet to learn something new – it’s another skill I can add to my collection now… And also, I’ve enjoyed the process of using Google Classroom in order to submit ‘homework’ and get feedback – both from my tutor and from my fellow students… It’s all been a very new, but enjoyable experience and I certainly feel less anxious and apprehensive about joining an online class now, than I did at the beginning… So thank you for all your effort and hard work and creating this opportunity… From my point of view, it has been extremely worthwhile.”

Read some of our learner stories here