Job skills and help

Woman smiling and talking to other people at a table.

Our courses can help you gain new skills or get a job-related qualification

 

Update (8 March 2021): Our learning centres have now re-opened. Our current courses are online, in-class or a mix of both. Please continue to check our website for updates. Read more about how we are following government guidance for your safety.

Our free Virtual Job Fairs: April and summer 2021

Free Virtual Job Fairs: Tuesday 27 April 2021, Wednesday 16 June 2021, Thursday 29 July 2021 and Friday 27 August 2021

We have several free Virtual Job Fairs this year. Find out about apprenticeships, vacancies and how to get a job from top employers: join us online for our next job fair (12.30pm on Tuesday 27 April 2021)!

Free: Microsoft’s Digital Skills Week (26–30 April 2021)

Digital Skills Week 26–30 April 2021. Daily talks and training to help you build new skills and achieve more.

From Monday 26 to Friday 30 April 2021, Microsoft is hosting a series of free talks and digital skills training. There are practical Microsoft Azure workshops at different levels. You can also learn digital skills for jobs; career skills; how to make your CV stand out; how to ‘rock your LinkedIn profile’; and get tips for job interviews. Register for Microsoft’s Digital Skills Week 26–30 April 2021

Gain new skills: enrol on our spring and summer 2021 courses

Learn skills for work: spring and summer 2021 skills and qualification courses for adults. Adult smiling as they hold several file folders.

Art, crafts, fashion and gardening: spring and summer 2021 courses

Art, crafts, fashion and gardening: spring and summer 2021 courses for adults. Adult painting at an easel.

Learn all sorts of art, crafts and fashion with us or get outdoors with our gardening courses. Explore our spring and summer 2021 art, crafts, fashion, horticulture and gardening courses.

Free Passport to Work programme for unemployed Waltham Forest residents

Passport to Work. For unemployed Waltham Forest residents: a free programme to help you get a job and gain digital and work skills. Start by booking a free information session. Phone 020 8496 2974 www.lbwfadultlearning.co.uk

Are you trying to get a job? Our Passport to Work programme for unemployed Waltham Forest residents includes digital skills, interview skills and teamwork. You will also create a learning plan and get access to job vacancies.

Laptop loans for our learners

Close-up of an open laptop in someone’s lap as they type

We understand that it can be hard to access a computer to keep up with your learning. To help, we have a new laptop loan service and we are exploring ways to help with internet access too.

Live in or near London? Learn with us!

Map with London borough boundaries labelled and Waltham Forest highlighted

You don’t have to live in Waltham Forest to enrol with us: our courses are open to all adults in the UK aged 19 years and older. Do you live in Loughton, Debden or Buckhurst Hill? Some of our courses are online, but if you live near Waltham Forest, you could also take an in-person or blended (online and in-person) course with us. Find out more about enrolling with us.

Gain skills for work, life and your wellbeing

Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service is committed to supporting our residents as they learn new skills and gain qualifications.

Prospectus 2020-21 cover

Our 2020–21 courses, workshops and training are a mix of online and face-to-face learning. We have prepared our centres to ensure the safety of our staff and learners.

Get started with our course listings

Ready to enrol? You might need to do an assessment first

For English, maths, ESOL and all our qualification courses you will need to book a free assessment with us.

Enrol today

For most of our art, craft, gardening, community and family learning courses you do not need an assessment, so you can book your course online. Find out more about our courses: contact us.

Free courses and our new 50 per cent discount

Most of our courses are free or up to 70 per cent off depending on your circumstances. As of October 2020, we are also offering a 50 per cent discount on standard fees for even more of our courses. This is one way we are continuing to support learners during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more about our course fees.

Our Health and Wellbeing award

Learners and tutors on social prescribing courses at Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service and outdoor spaces including Walthamstow Wetlands. Composite of four images: learner doing screenprinting, tutor showing a drawing to a learner, the back of an adult outdoors in the rain with an umbrella, a tutor in a raincoat presenting a class under a tree.

Our social prescribing programme won the national Festival of Learning 2020 Health and Wellbeing award! Our specially designed creative and gardening courses help improve residents’ mental health. Participants learn together and explore the beautiful outdoor spaces of Waltham Forest.

Read more about our award-winning social prescribing programme

Your safety and Covid-19

Our 2020–21 courses and training are a mix of online and in-class learning. We are following Public Health England safety guidance for Covid-19. Read about the changes we have made to help keep our learners and staff safe

Apprenticeship jobs available

Apprenticeships are high-quality, work-based training programmes. They are a fantastic way to start or change your career.

Our experienced team will help you find the right role. Start with our list of apprenticeship roles

Employers: you could get £2,000 to employ an apprentice! To find out how, email our team apprenticeships.als@walthamforest.gov.uk

Keep learning with us!

Keep London Learning logo

Trying to get a job? Our free jobs help courses and resources can help. 

We are also recruiting new apprentices and running our successful English Conversation Clubs remotely.

Keep learning with us! Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service is proud to join with other education providers and be a part of Keep London Learning.

Our English Conversation Clubs and free volunteer training 

Practise speaking English in a friendly group. Join one of our free English Conversation Clubs for Waltham Forest residents. We have clubs almost every day (Monday to Saturday) Join a free English Conversation Club

Our Clubs are run by trained volunteers. Want to volunteer? We offer free accredited training for  the volunteers who run our Conversation Clubs. Find out more about becoming a Conversation Club volunteer

CREATING REAL RESULTS FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU

Our focus for the Adult Learning Service is helping you get the skills that employers need – from beginner level upwards. Our courses are easy to access, local and at times and days to meet your needs.

What people who have been on our courses say about them:

  1. Office Procedures course

    “The lecturer and other pupils were friendly and made the course enjoyable.”






  2. Universal Jobmatch

    “I got to learn basic computer information, at the start I knew nothing”






  3. ICT Skills for Work – ITQ Level 1 Award

    “Tutor went out of her way to ensure we learnt, enjoyed and hopefully passed this course. Course both enjoyable and useful.”






  4. Family Art

    “Introduced me to new skills, especially felt making. Also doing activities with my children was a lovely experience.”






Logos: Supported by Mayor of London, European Social Fund, Education and Skills Funding Agency, Matrix, Ofsted rated good, London Borough of Waltham Forest.