New Kent employability and wellbeing courses: an integrated approach
The Employment Services Directorate delivers the AEB and Multiply programmes for unemployed participants in East Kent. We deliver a range of qualifications and support to progress into a job, apprenticeship or further learning.
We are currently offering learners in Kent a two-week Level 1 Certificate in Employability Skills. The course aims to enhance their confidence and employment prospects. Building on this foundation, the training team is also writing a course to deliver alongside the current employability course. This new course, called ‘A Framework for a Healthy Mind and Body’, will be a Level 1 Certificate in Wellbeing and has been designed to support our learners with their mental and physical health. Our goal with this is to approach employability holistically. The combined courses will help learners to improve their confidence getting and sustaining work as part of a healthy lifestyle. Equipping people with the skills necessary to care for their own health is key in achieving this. The two courses will make up a combined course and result in a dual certification accredited by NCFE (a charity and awarding body, formerly known as the Northern Council for Further Education). The programme lasts 13 days (about two weeks) and is delivered in East Kent, with particular focus on Medway and Margate.
We are excited to be able to share these courses with you and hope that this integrated approach will inspire other teams. We believe that even one person in a family of unemployed people finding work can change the outlook and outcome for their whole family. Change like this is powerful, and spreading positivity affects communities too.
If you have clients/participants who are unemployed and eligible for this provision, please email employment@forwardtrust.org.uk. If you have any questions about the dual qualification course, please email ruth.alabi@forwardtrust.org.uk.
Our AEB provision is funded by the Education, Skills and Funding Agency (ESFA). This provision is not for individuals already in work or employed. More information on this can be found here.
Other programmes running in Kent include:
- Multiply Programme (Engagement)
Multiply is a new numeracy programme being run in Margate. It is aimed at adults living in East Kent aged 19 and above who don’t already have a Level 2 maths or equivalent qualification (GCSE Grade C or above or Grade 4 or above). They can be in employment or unemployed. Taster workshops or courses in numeracy in Thanet.
- Count on Us workshops
Count on Us workshops help people to increase their confidence with numbers. They have been designed for people who need to take a first step towards formal numeracy qualifications, encouraging participants to progress further in their numeracy. We are also offering a range of new numeracy courses, starting in April 2023 across East Kent, to increase confidence with numbers as a first step towards formal numeracy qualifications. (6 hours per individual)
Each participant gets 12-25 hours of taught workshops including three hours of careers, information advice and guidance.