What is Learning in the Community?
Learning in the Community is a free adult education programme delivered by Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy (BESA), designed to help you develop your maths, English and digital skills, all of which are vital essential skills we use in everyday life and in the workplace.
BESA also offers a range of courses that develop skills to move you closer towards employability or further learning. Funded by Adult Skills Funding, these courses are free, flexible and take place in community venues across Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough.
All sessions are inclusive and tailored to accommodate learners of varying skill levels. Whether your goal is to improve your literacy and numeracy, gain confidence in using technology, or prepare for employment, BESA offers a supportive and welcoming environment to help you achieve your aspirations. And the best news is, there are no formal exams to sit!
Our courses will help you to:
- build confidence in maths, English, digital and employability skills
- improve everyday skills like managing money, writing emails, and using technology
- prepare for work by developing employability skills and job application techniques
- communicate better through improved reading, writing, and speaking skills
- gain independence by learning practical skills for real-life situations
Learning in the Community focuses on the development of essential skills, designed to enhance confidence in both everyday life situations and the workplace. Whether you are pursuing learning for personal enrichment or professional advancement, we are committed to supporting you throughout your journey.
Some of the courses we’re currently delivering include:
- Communicate with Confidence: this 2-hour practical course is designed to help you communicate confidently in both personal and professional settings
- Life Beyond Benefits: this empowering 2-hour course explores the personal and financial benefits of moving beyond reliance on benefits, offering practical strategies for employment, budgeting, and personal growth to support a more independent life
- Master the process of uploading and modifying your CV onto digital platforms: this 2-hour workshop teaches you how to upload and optimise your CV on platforms like Indeed, Find a Job, and CV Library, using practical exercises to boost visibility, tailor applications, and increase your chances of securing interviews
- Unlock Your Potential: this 6-week course helps build job search and interview skills, set personal development goals, set career and financial goals, boost confidence through mock interviews, and create a standout CV with support from the National Careers Service
- Numeracy Confidence: this 10-week course will help you build essential everyday maths skills at your own pace, boosting your confidence with topics like percentages, fractions, and multiplication, whether you're preparing for qualifications, supporting your child’s learning, or simply brushing up on your numeracy
- Digital Essential Skills for Beginners: this 10-week beginner-friendly digital course builds essential tech skills, from using devices, email, and online safety to creating documents, completing online forms and applications, scanning QR codes, improving typing, and exploring AI with ChatGPT, empowering you to confidently navigate digital tools for everyday life
- Literacy Confidence: this 10-week course is ideal for building confidence in reading, writing, and communication through practical, everyday English skills, perfect for those looking to progress onto formal English qualifications
If you’re interested in any of these courses, please tell us:
Do you lead or attend a community group?
If you lead or attend a group within the Central Bedfordshire or Bedford Borough and think your members would benefit from one or more of our courses, please get in touch. We are keen to meet the needs of the community and are open to delivering bespoke courses.