About our partnership
At SHAL, the focus is on supporting communities, by delivering people-focused service excellence.
At UCS College Group, our core purpose is to inspire every student to believe in their potential and to transform our local communities.
Two organisations, one community focus
By joining forces, we are bringing free, flexible, and high-quality education directly to you.
Whether you are looking to advance your career, return to work, or simply learn a new skill for your own wellbeing, we are here to support your journey.
By joining forces, SHAL and UCS College Group are bridging the gap between housing and personal growth. We have combined SHAL’s commitment to supporting communities with UCS College Group’s expertise in adult education to create an exclusive programme just for you.
Apply
Select your course from the options below to register your interest. Email feedback@shal.org if you have any questions.
Prepare
Once your application has been processed, check your emails and follow the instructions to enrol.
Learn
Begin your fully supported educational journey with UCS College Group.
Discover courses that are transforming lives
Our courses are built around your needs. With our flexible online learning options, you can fit studying around your family and work commitments.
- Essential skills: Brush up on maths, English, and essential IT skills in a supportive, pressure-free environment
- Career & Employability: Gain recognised qualifications to help you secure a new job, get promoted, or completely change your career path
- Health & Wellbeing: Explore courses focused on personal development, mental health awareness, and practical life skills
- Creative & Hobbies: Discover a new passion or turn a hobby into a side business with our introductory creative courses.
Popular courses
This Skills Booster programme is designed to help you build the knowledge, confidence, and professional skills needed to begin or progress a career in Adult Social Care. Combining a Level 2 qualification with three employability awards, it provides a strong foundation for working in a rewarding sector.
What you will learn:
- Core Care Principles: Understand the role of a social care worker, person-centred approaches, and how to support personal development in care settings.
- Safety & Safeguarding: Learn your duty of care responsibilities, health and safety protocols, and how to protect individuals in health and social care.
- Effective Communication: Build skills for handling information safely, communicating clearly, and championing diversity, equality, and inclusion.
- Resolving Conflict: Gain an understanding of different types of conflict and develop strategies for managing challenging situations confidently and professionally
- Personal Effectiveness: Master habit management techniques and develop a practical understanding of British Values to support your everyday life and career.
Ideal for those looking to progress into a supervisory role or advance from an entry-level position, this programme combines flexible online learning with supportive classroom sessions to develop your confidence and practical leadership skills.
What you will learn:
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Team Leadership Essentials: Understand the principles of effective team leadership, different communication styles, and how to manage performance while motivating others.
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Workplace Culture: Learn how to champion equality, diversity, and inclusion, and explore the importance of British Values in modern organizations.
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Wellbeing & Support: Gain vital mental health awareness to better support your colleagues and foster a healthy working environment.
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Personal Development: Enhance your professional effectiveness through habit management and mastering the behaviours expected of successful supervisors.
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Advanced Management Topics: Get a head start on your career progression by exploring selected Level 3 leadership and management concepts.
This course is for anyone who wants to prepare for work or update their skills in their existing role. This qualification will help you gain essential knowledge to carry out a range of administrative tasks.
What you will learn:
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Office Essentials: Manage diaries, organize meetings, and deliver great customer service.
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Professional Documents: Confidently create, file, and securely store business emails and records.
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Clear Communication: Find your voice to speak and write confidently with colleagues and clients.
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Teamwork: Build strong, supportive workplace relationships and learn to guide new team members.
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Business Basics: Understand company structures, plan events, and grasp basic office finance.
This qualification aims to increase understanding of the principles of healthy eating and the role of food in maintaining health.
What you will learn:
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Healthy Eating Basics: Learn what makes a balanced diet and the principles of preparing nutritious meals.
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Nutrition for Everyone: Understand the specific dietary needs of children, older people, and those with special requirements.
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Smart Planning & Weight Management: Master food labels, plan healthy diets, and learn safe, effective ways to manage weight.
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Understanding Eating Disorders: Gain a sensitive understanding of eating disorders, their causes, and how to offer support.
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Food Hygiene: Learn essential food safety, safe storage, and clean preparation skills for the home or workplace.
This course will enable learners to develop central knowledge of how to carry out customer service tasks.
What you will learn:
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Service Essentials: Learn the core principles of delivering fantastic customer service.
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Clear Communication: Discover how to speak and write professionally and confidently to any customer.
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Handling Challenges: Build the skills to calmly resolve problems and manage difficult situations.
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Building Relationships: Learn how to exceed expectations, build loyalty, and keep customers happy.
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Teamwork & Business: Understand how workplaces operate, work brilliantly in a team, and support your colleagues.
This qualification aims to increase your knowledge and awareness of children and young people’s mental health.
What you will learn:
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Mental Health Basics: Understand how society views mental health and the guidance that protects young people.
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Triggers & Causes: Explore how things like bullying, puberty, and developmental changes affect a child’s wellbeing.
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Recognizing the Signs: Learn to spot behaviors linked to stress, anxiety, depression, and other conditions.
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The Wider Impact: Understand how mental health concerns affect the young person, their family, and their friends.
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Providing Support: Discover practical ways to support young people, promote positive mental wellbeing, and understand the treatments available.
Frequently Asked Questions
The courses are free if you meet the following eligibility criteria:
If applying for a Level 2 course:
- Learners must be aged 19 years or over at the beginning of the current academic year
- Must be a permanent resident in England and live in Somerset, Dorset, or Wiltshire
- Must be a resident in the UK on the first day of learning
- Must earn less than £26,800 annual gross salary (£2,233 monthly or £515 weekly) or be in receipt of benefits including Universal Credit (UC), Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) including NI Contributions only, Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or unemployed and not claiming benefits
- Earnings evidence may be requested upon enrolment.
If applying for a Level 3 course:
If you fall into one of the following categories, you also qualify for full funding for DfE funded qualifications based on the qualifications you hold on entry:
- Aged 19+ who was approved for funding and appears on the Free Courses For Jobs List (classroom or workplace) and meet the earning threshold of £26,800 annual gross salary or is unemployed.
- Students aged 19-23 which was approved for funding and appears on the Free Courses For Jobs List (classroom or workplace) who do not currently hold a full Level 3 qualification and earn above £26,800 annual gross salary.
- Applicants for Level 3 courses who are currently employed and earn above the annual income threshold of £26,800 may still be eligible for funded learning if they are in receipt of benefits. In such cases, applicants must provide a Universal Credit statement or other acceptable evidence of their benefit entitlement.
Please be prepared to provide earnings and income evidence upon enrolment.
No! All of these courses can be completed entirely online from the comfort of your home.
Absolutely. Our courses are designed for adult learners of all ages and experience levels. Our tutors are incredibly supportive, and we provide resources to help you build your confidence every step of the way.
You can find a selection of courses above, with many more available.
Navigate to the form below, and complete your application. You will then receive your next steps via email on how to finalise your application.
If you need help with your application, get in touch with info@ucscollegegroup.ac.uk and feedback@shal.org.