Adult learning and employment

Important information about Adult Learning: Covid-19

Due to the developing situation with the Coronavirus (Covid-19), there will be some disruption to the Adult Learning services. Please contact your learning provider directly to check about the delivery of your course as the situation develops. We thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.

Adult learning – learn at home with online and distance learning activities

There are plenty of learning opportunities for residents during this extraordinary time. Our partner providers are offering a range of opportunities to support you to learn new skills or maintain your wellbeing while at home, online and at distance.

Kensington and Chelsea is proudly part of the Keep London Learning initiative, launched by Lifelong Learning London Central (LLLC), a collaboration of 12 local authority adult community education providers. The initiative was created as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic to make sure that Londoners can maintain their wellbeing, skills development and learning during the pandemic. You can find out more on the Keep London Learning website.

For more information on what our delivery partners are offering please see their websites or contact them directly:

Clement James Centre 

Adult learning classes are back for the summer term and there are still spaces at various levels for maths and English. New classes starting in early May for introduction to online learning, Excel for Work and Intro to PowerPoint.

Email adultlearning@clementjames.org or leave a voicemail on 020 7221 8810 for more information.

Their regular English groups are also continuing online: practice English during lockdown; email: lit-num@clementjames.org for more information.

Goldfinger Factory 

Offering Soulcraft at Home, the Goldfinger Academy Online Learning offer is for 2 4-part series of videos and conversations to support participants to develop their knowledge and understanding and design drawing skills. There will enable them to submit their own design drawings to the Goldfinger 'Design for Need' competition, where open submissions are sought for an object for the home to be made in wood by Goldfinger’s skilled members.

The two series will be held on:

  • 4,11,18 and 25 of June
  • 2, 9, 16 and 23 of July

Please email: info@goldfingerfactory.com, or call on tel: 020 3302 0900 to enrol.

Hammersmith Community Gardens Association

Online resources to support you and your children with activities linked to nature, environment and the world around you. Visit the Hammersmith Community Gardens Association website for further information.

Harmony Finance 

Money master classes to support you improving your finances, including reducing debt, increasing credit scores, creating spending plans, now delivering online from June.

Kensington and Chelsea Forum

Mindfulness workshops now offered online through zoom – please get in touch to find out more.

Learning Curve Group

Learn something new or develop your existing knowledge with an online course. Learning Curve Group specialise in short-term training that delivers maximum results. Their courses include a range of employability focused vocational certified courses through flexible learning methods.

Visit the Learning Curve Group website to find out what is available; call on tel: 01388 777 129 or email: training@learningcurvegroup.co.uk.

Morley College London

Incorporating the North Kensington Centre and the Chelsea Centres following merger with Kensington and Chelsea College, Morley College London now offers over 500 online courses for the summer term across a wide range of curriculum areas. Visit the Morley College website for details. 

Nova New Opportunities

English, maths and digital skills available online. Please contact the provider directly by email: reception@novanew.org.uk or phone: 07519 996354. Visit the Nova New Opportunities website for details. 

Open Age

Supporting the over 50s through social distancing and shielding, including training people in using Zoom so they can participate in online classes that are taking part. For more information telephone 0208 962 5590 or email: asharkey@openage.org.uk.

Westway Trust

Delivering ESOL and awards in English through online and distance learning during this time. Please contact the Westway Trust for more information about how to get involved. Call: 020 8962 5720 or email: info@westway.org.

Workers Education Association

The Workers Education Association has been delivering family learning, English and Maths through our children’s centres and other voluntary orgs within the borough, particularly in the South of the borough. They have a wide range of online courses for you to join at this time. Visit the WEA website for details. 

 

New: Introduction to Childcare

Introduction to Childcare 2020

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Writerz and Scribez

During this time of social isolation they are committed to providing spaces for connection, creativity and collaboration. They are delivering workshops, masterclasses, feedback groups and more. Sign up for online events on the Writerz and Scribez website.  

Libraries

Libraries Learning and Careers have a vast range of resources available online for library members – including online resources for children, online newspapers and magazines, eJournals, eBook, eAudiobooks amongst others. Visit the Learning and careers page for details.

Other online resources 

Please note that we do not endorse the following resources, and information is for support purposes only.

  • Learn My Way – Being Safe Online course: use the internet safely, including spotting scams and keeping safe on social media, with simple steps on how to help protect yourself
  • BBC Bitesize: learning and revision for primary and secondary school age learners, and post-16 learners – including functional skills maths and English and subjects across the arts, humanities, languages and science (useful for parents supporting their children’s education and for those wishing to upskill and learn for wellbeing) 
  • The Skills Tool Kit: free digital and numeracy courses to build your skills
  • National Numeracy: free online tool to help you improve your everyday maths skills – for yourself and to support your children’s education
  • LearnEnglish: learn English online – provided by the British Council
  • Talk English: courses offered in a variety of ways including online - sign up to access their online practice sessions, learning new words and phrases in English
  • ESOL courses: free English lessons online – practise your English with free interactive listening lessons, reading exercises, quizzes and games
  • The MARCH Network: creative ways to support wellbeing
  • Openlearn: free courses from the Open University
  • Alison: one of the world’s largest free learning platforms for education and skills training
  • Online Learning College: a wide range of courses with tutor support, many leading to nationally recognised qualifications. (including beauty therapy, business and management, childcare and early years, IT and health and social care). These courses are fee-paying.

 

Adult learning and employment service

Adult learning and employment service is working to provide a wide range of provision in three broad curriculum objectives: aspiration and employment; participation and citizenship; and health and wellbeing.

Our courses have diversified to meet the demand for more courses leading to recognised qualifications in basic and vocational skills, whilst maintaining a wide range of options for people wanting to pursue creative, leisure and wellbeing paths. We have:

  • courses to help you improve your literacy, numeracy and language abilities, many of which will lead to recognised qualifications
  • vocational courses leading to formal qualifications which can improve your prospects of finding work, or finding better work
  • courses and activities that help you develop new skills that could lead to career change, or to study for your own personal development
  • opportunities for you to develop skills in arts and crafts; dance; creative writing; reading and comprehension; budgeting and mathematics; spoken English; and technology - and to gain vocational qualifications
  • opportunities to learn about working in specific sectors such as childcare, creative arts and healthcare, and about working for yourself or setting up a business

We have a wide range of learning opportunities available for adults (aged 19+). We work with local education and community learning providers to deliver high quality learning for residents in local venues across the borough.

This guide provides information about the curriculum offer and delivery partners for adult learning provision in the borough. 

Adult Learning Services

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Our current partners are:

Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea

ADKC Centre
Whitstable House
Silchester Road
London
W10 6SB

Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea delivers courses for people with physical and/or sensory impairments.

Clement James Centre

95 Sirdar Road
London
W11 4EQ

The ClementJames Centre delivers functional skills courses, an introduction to the digital world, and employment support information.

Goldfinger Factory

13-15 Golbourne Road, London W10 5NY

Goldfinger factory offer courses in sustainable woodworking and craft, to educate people of all ages and backgrounds, from curious beginners to aspiring artisans. Helping the community engage with woodworking and furniture making skills and developing an understanding of sustainable practices and beautiful wood.

Harmony Finance

Delivering financial harmony money master classes to help you improve your finances in simple, easy and engaging ways – including effective ways to reduce debt, increase your credit scores, create spending plans and savings tips. Delivered locally, in a supportive and friendly style by a trainer who previously worked in the personal banking sector. Currently delivering form the Curve community venue. Email or call for more information.

Hammersmith Community Gardens Association

Contact: Katie Shaw, Operations Manager

Hammersmith Community Gardens Association delivers courses focused on wellbeing including walking, cooking, gardening, nature illustration and family learning linked to horticulture.

Kensington and Chelsea Forum

155A King's Road
London
SW3 5TX

Mindfulness workshops for the over 50s to help them improve the ability to pay attention and remember, by developing skills in focusing awareness on sensory stimuli in the present moment, while ignoring intrusive thoughts and inner chatter. Please call for the 2020 schedule.

Learning Curve Group

Learning Curve delivers a range of vocational courses including employability skills.

Morley College London (following merger with Kensington and Chelsea College)

Kensington Centre
Wornington Road
London
W10 5QQ

Chelsea Centre
Hortensia Road
London
SW10 0QS

Kensington and Chelsea College delivers vocational courses providing a bridge into mainstream college provision. For example; ESOL and English provision leading to Levels 1 and 2 functional skills, returning to maths study and a wide range of creative arts courses.

Nova New Opportunities

2 Thorpe Close
W10 5XL

Nova New Opportunities delivers courses in: 

  • English
  • basic digital skills
  • office skills (ICT)
  • budgeting and managing money
  • skills in the community
  • family learning workshops centred around STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, arts and Mathmatics).

Open Age

Second Half Centre
St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing
Exmoor Street
London
W10 6DX

New Horizons
Guinness Trust Estate
Cadogan Street
London
SW3 2PF

Open Age delivers course for people aged 50+: focusing on social interaction, wellbeing and maintenance delivering a range of courses to support digital skills development, art courses, creative writing, budgeting, current affairs and drama.

Westway Trust

1 Thorpe Close
London
W10 5XL

Westway Trust delivers courses for ESOL provision at a range of levels from pre-entry to Level 1 and getting to know your community.

Workers’ Educational Association (WEA)

WEA delivers courses to re-engage those who haven’t been in learning for a while: start your own business; health programmes and beginners ICT (search for courses delivered in Kensington and Chelsea).

Writerz and Scribez

An introduction to poetry courses for those with chaotic backgrounds.

 

Family learning courses

Family learning courses support parents and carers of pre-school and school-aged children – giving you the confidence to understand the school curriculum and develop your own skills in supporting your children’s development and learning. Some of these programmes will be for you as an adult alone, and others are for you and your children to learn together. 

For more information about family learning programmes please email: Pauline.koku@rbkc.gov.uk  

See also: Adult and Family Learning policies and strategies

 

Services that can help you find work 

Jobs and Training Guide

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