The following links offer valuable assistance that will help you to progress in learning and work!
These sites, provided by other organisations, give you information and advice on learning and work. Some give direct access to opportunities, others will help you to overcome some of your actual, or perceived, barriers to learning and work.
Although nextstep Black Country have identified these sites as helpful we can not be held responsible for their content. From time to time we may drop or add to links to improve our service to you.
Adult Learner's Gateway (Directgov) *****
Information about all area of Adult Learning, including courses, work-based learning, finance ang government policyPlease click here to view site
Agepositive
The Age Positive campaign promotes the benefits of employing a mixed-age workforce that includes older and younger people.Please click here to view site
AimHigher Learning Pathways System (ALPS) for the West Midlands
ALPS - a learning resource designed to help the advisor help others find their perfect learning and development solution.Please click here to view site
BBC LEARNING
Online support and advice - looks at all types of learning, for you and your family. Extensive links to other agencies and resources that will help you in learning and work.Please click here to view site
British citizenship - Life in the UK Test
This site helps you to prepare for the Life in the UK Test. It does not give you the knowledge you need to take the test.Please click here to view site
BT
On line telephone listingsPlease click here to view site
Business Link
Provides the information and support you need to start, maintain and grow a business.Please click here to view site
Campaign for Learning
It's amazing how some people can effortlessly memorise the names of a football team or the words of a song, but struggle to learn a subject for school. Why do we learn some things more easily than others?Please click here to view site
Career Development Loans
This site has been designed for use by learning providers for individuals who wish to fund their education or learning through the CDL programme.Please click here to view site
Career Development Loans (Directgov)
Since they were launched in 1988 Career Development Loans (CDLs) have helped tens of thousands of people to give their careers a liftPlease click here to view site
Childcare Link Service
The website helps you find useful information about the different types of childcare and early education in your local area and helps you to make the right choice for the whole family.Please click here to view site
connexions Black Country
An organisation committed to working with young people, parents, carers and stakeholders to help all young people achieve the best possible outcomes.Please click here to view site
Criminal Record?
The Criminal Records Bureau is an executive agency of the Home Office and is based in Liverpool. It helps employers in England and Wales make safer recruitment decisions through the provision of criminal record information through its Disclosure service.Please click here to view site
Department for Education and Skills
Portals and gateways - This page offers a list of portals and gateways which bring together a wide range of information that is tailored to the needs of different people.Please click here to view site
Department for Work and Pensions
Benefits and services for people of working age, providing financial help and support. From the list, pick an area that relates to you and check if you are able to get any of the benefits and services.Please click here to view site
Directgov - Service provided by Jobcentre Plus
Look for jobs, employment, vacancies, training and childcare - updated on aregular basis!Please click here to view site
Disability Rights Commission
If you have an impairment or a long-term health condition that has an impact on your day-to-day life you are likely to have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).Please click here to view site
Educational Grants Advisory Service - FWA
EGAS provides information and advice on funding for post-16 education, enabling individuals to gain access to education to improve their quality of life and employment opportunities.Please click here to view site
English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
Improving your English can help you get more out of your life in the UK. It will also help if you want to study, improve your CV, or apply to become a British citizen.Please click here to view site
Equal Opportunities Commission
You can contact the Helpline for advice and information on sex discrimination.Please click here to view site
Funding Directory - from advice-resources
Funding Directory is designed to support you through the process of applying for educational funding. Our fully searchable database provides quick access to over 600 non-charitable funding schemes and providers at a national, regional and local level.Please click here to view site
Get rid of your gremlins
Baffled by your kids’ homework? Want to improve your reading, writing or maths skills? Call the Get On helpline on 0800 66 0800, and get rid of your gremlinsPlease click here to view site
Google - Language tools
Instantly translates words, or a web page into other languages - Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.Please click here to view site
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hotcourses - Student Money
Hotcourses and UCAS bring you a comprehensive guide to everything you need when planning and organising your student finances.Please click here to view site
Job Profile Search - from advice resources
A to Z listing of jobs - hours, income and more? Search more than 700 job profiles online.Please click here to view site
Jobcentre Plus
Support for people of working age - For a new beginning, search for jobs on line & find out how to make a claim.Please click here to view site
learndirect
Online learning opportunities - study at home or at one of the nationwide network of learning centresPlease click here to view site
learndirect - Job profiles
Browse through over 700 job descriptions and profiles.Please click here to view site
learndirect National Learning Advice
It doesn't matter whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned learner - learndirect can help you choose a coursePlease click here to view site
Learning at work
Your manager is usually the best person with whom to discuss learning opportunities in your workplace and development in your job. However, if you are looking to improve your working or home life through learning more generally, there are a range of placePlease click here to view site
Morrisby - psychometric assessment preparation
Suffering from that strange sinking feeling; got to take some tests? This guide will help you to prepare yourself.Please click here to view site
Move-on
A free skills check or test taster; a free brush up course that covers literacy and numeracy skills; entry to the National Test; advice on opportunitiesPlease click here to view site
nextstep - Coventry and Warwickshire
Take the first step in returning to training, a job and a futurePlease click here to view site
nextstep - Hereford and Worcestershire
We are a network of organisations providing information and advice about learning, training and work to adults aged 20 plus.Please click here to view site
nextstep - Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin
The contract to provide nextstep services is awarded by the Learning & Skills Councils. In Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, the contract has been given to Connexions STW who act as contract manager.Please click here to view site
nextstep - Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
This is a free service for all adults and is designed to help you if you need to improve your job prospects or skills, get a qualification or just make the most of your job.Please click here to view site
nextstep Birmingham and Solihull
nextstep provides information and advice on learning and work for adults aged 20 years and over. Our services are available throughout the Birmingham and Solihull area.Please click here to view site
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Open University
Find out how OU study works, what it costs and how we can help you meet those costs, and what it's like to study at home according to a timetable that suits you.Please click here to view site
Plain English Campaign
The 'Plain English Campaign'. In this site under FREE GUIDES, you can find out how to produce a CV that can be understood.Please click here to view site
Prince's Trust
For information on the help on offer for young people - No GCSEs? That doesn't mean you should be out of options. Need money to get your idea for a community project off the ground? Find out how The Trust can help.Please click here to view site
Prospects
One of the largest providers of careers, education and distribution services in the UKPlease click here to view site
Quick Reads 2007
Quick Reads was launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair on World Book Day 2006 to provide fast-paced, bite-sized books by bestselling writers for emergent readers, anyone who had lost the reading habit or simply wanted a short, fast read.Please click here to view site
RAW (Reading and Writing)
The biggest adult literacy campaign the BBC has ever undertaken, fun and entertainment to help you with you reading and writingPlease click here to view site
Refugee Council
The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. We not only give direct help and support, but also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.Please click here to view site
RNIB - Royal National Institute of the Blind
Providing local support to help people with sight problems get the best education and employment opportunities.Please click here to view site
RNID - Royal National Institute for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
We can provide advice and guidance for deaf and hard of hearing people on how to find your ideal job and provide individual support that will help you get into work.Please click here to view site
Sector Skills Councils
There are 25 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). Each SSC is an employer-led, independent organisation that covers a specific area of employment and skills development across the UK.Please click here to view site
Skills for Life
Literacy and Numeracy qualifications prove that you’ve gained the knowledge and developed the essential basic skills.Please click here to view site
Skills for Life - Courses at learndirect
Brush up on your maths and English skills - and once you get started you'll find that it's easier than you thought.Please click here to view site
Skills for Life qualifications
Skills for Life qualifications are designed to help you develop the skills you use in everyday life, such as reading, writing or maths. They can also help you boost your CV or move on to further study.Please click here to view site
Streetmap.co.uk
Address searching and street map facilities for the UKPlease click here to view site
Student loans
This site provides easy access to key information you may require about student loans.Please click here to view site
Sure Start
Sure Start is the government programme to deliver the best start in life for every child. We bring together, early education, childcare, health and family support.Please click here to view site
The Basic Skills Agency
For the Advisor - BSA is committed to working with others to make sure that effective opportunities exist to help children, young people and adults strengthen their basic skillsPlease click here to view site
Train to Gain
Train to Gain Skills Brokers provide a free, independent and impartial assessment to identify what skills your business needs now and in the future. They can then help you arrange training and provide information about possible sources of funding.Please click here to view site
U3A - University of the Third Age
U3A stands for the University of the Third Age, which is a self-help organisation for people no longer in full time employment providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly environment. It consists of local U3As all over the UK.Please click here to view site
UCAS
The universities and colleges admissions service for the UKPlease click here to view site
unionlearn
Unionlearn is here to help unions spread the lifelong learning message to even more members.Please click here to view site
Unionlearn - TUC
Information on learning agreements, IAG, working with providers, Skills for Life, funding, ICT...and morePlease click here to view site
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Volunteering
Volunteers can do almost anything! From helping an elderly neighbour with their shopping, to providing legal advice for a local charity, volunteers make a vital contribution to all aspects of community life.Please click here to view site
Volunteering... do-it!
Search through over 800,000 opportunities to volunteer and apply online.Please click here to view site
West Midlands - Traveline
Details of all bus services registered within the West Midlands region.Please click here to view site
West Midlands Learning Directory
The directory is a signpost to some of the finest learning resources in the region. This resource is continually being updated for the benefit of employers, learners, providers infact any adult in the region.Please click here to view site
Wolverhampton Asylum Seekers & Refugee Service
WARS provides free advice, guidance and support. It's free, impartial & confidential advice to all asylum seekers & refugees living in Wolverhampton and surrounding areas.Please click here to view site
Workers' Educational Association (WEA) West Midlands Region
The largest voluntary provider of adult education in the United Kingdom. The national association is divided into ten regions: 9 in England and the Scottish association.Please click here to view site
Works4me
Why end up in a job simply because that's what women and men are told they are best at or that they should do? We don't think there are such things as men's work or women's work. The works4me site is a perfect place to explore non traditional careers.Please click here to view site
Yellow Pages
Please click here to view site
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