Boost Your Confidence with Learning

September often brings the feeling of a fresh start and there is a distinct “back to school” vibe in the air.  While children head back to class, it is a great time for adults to learn something new and develop skills, especially since there are a lot of organisations offering new opportunities starting this autumn.  It could be that you would like to improve your digital skills, start a new hobby, boost your confidence or prepare for employment.  Whichever you might like to do, there are plenty of opportunities available both in Kent or online if you would prefer to learn remotely.

Take a Course

 

One of the best places to start is the Kent and Medway Recovery and Wellbeing College.  The college offers free educational courses designed to support mental and physical wellbeing, confidence and recovery. Courses are available online and in community venues across Kent, covering topics such as managing long-term health conditions, mindfulness, confidence building, healthy living and personal development.

If you are interested in gaining qualifications or learning practical skills, Kent Adult Education offers hundreds of part-time courses, many with accessible venues around the county and online options. Subjects range from IT and English to arts, languages and vocational training. If studying from home suits you better, there are hundreds of free online courses that you can complete from the comfort of your own home. Many allow you to study at your own pace, making them ideal if you need to fit learning around your health or other commitments.

• The Open University's OpenLearn offers over 1,000 free courses on everything from health and wellbeing to business and technology.

• FutureLearn provides both free and paid for access to courses from leading UK universities and organisations on subjects including digital skills, mental health, history and languages. 

• Learn My Way, run by the Good Things Foundation, is perfect if you would like to improve your digital skills, covering topics such as using email, staying safe online, online banking and video calling.

• Google Digital Garage offers free training in digital marketing, marketing, coding and more

• Alison and Coursera provide thousands of free courses covering professional skills, personal development, health, finance and much more. Although some platforms charge for certificates, you can often access the course content itself free of charge.

Learning does not always have to lead to a qualification. Joining a photography class, learning basic British Sign Language, improving your computer skills or attending a wellbeing course can all increase confidence, give you opportunities to connect with others and make everyday life easier.

Go Digital

 

There are plenty of free opportunities to help you get started with using computers, smartphones or the internet if you would like to feel more confident.  Digital Kent offers support with accessing devices, connectivity and digital skills through various projects and schemes that help you to access vital services and opportunities online.  You can also take a free class with We Click CIC, a Kent-based social enterprise that specialises in helping people develop practical digital skills in a friendly, supportive environment.  They hold free drop-in classes every Wednesday from 10am to noon at Trinity Foyer, 20 Church Street, Maidstone, ME14, where they can help you learn how to use your laptop or smartphone, and give assistance navigating online forms.  There is no need to book. 

Kent County Council also has suggestions of other schemes running in the county, including help at local libraries, Compaid and free IT courses.  Improving your digital skills can open up new opportunities and make everyday life that little bit easier so that you can send emails, shop online safely, access NHS services, use video calls to stay in touch with family, or manage your finances online.

Consider Employment

 

If you feel like you would like to take a step towards looking for work, Connect to Work is a government-funded programme that supports disabled people and those with health conditions to move into employment. Unlike traditional employment support, you do not need to be claiming benefits to take part. The service provides personalised help, including career coaching, CV and interview support, confidence building, job matching and in-work support once you have secured a role. Connect to Work is being rolled out across Kent through local authorities and partner organisations, making it easier than ever to access tailored employment support close to home. You can refer yourself or please contact us by clicking the button below if you would like us to refer you.

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This September, why not challenge yourself to learn one new thing? Every new skill is another step towards greater independence and enjoyment, and you might even discover a new passion along the way.