Adult Personal Development Curriculum

As well as supporting our students to acquire the professional and technical skills needed to meet their career aspirations, we are passionate about helping our community to further develop personal skills, abilities and behaviours that will allow us all to achieve our potential in every aspect of day-to-day life.

These skills will encourage us all to participate in our local community and make a positive contribution to the lives of those around us.

British Values

At the heart of this curriculum is an understanding of the fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law, mutual response and tolerance all of which are also intrinsic to our College values.

British values underpin what means to be a citizen in a modern and diverse Britain and embody a sense of national identity based on our shared culture, languages and traditions.
 

Democracy

A culture built on freedom and equality, where everyone is aware of their rights and responsibilities. Some examples are:

• Leadership and accountability
• Joint decision making
• Team meetings
• The right to protest and petition
• Receiving and giving feedback

Rule of Law

The need for rules to make a happy, safe and secure environment in which to live and work. Some examples are:

• Legislation
• Agreed ways of working, policies, and procedures
• How the law protects you and others
• Codes of conduct

Mutual Respect and Tolerance

Understanding that we all do not share the same beliefs and values. Respecting the values, ideas and beliefs of others and not attempting to impose our beliefs on them. Some examples are:

• Embracing diversity
• Accepting the importance of religion, traditions, cultural heritage and preferences
• Tackling stereotyping, labelling, prejudice and discrimination

Individual Liberty

Protection of your rights and the rights of others you work with. Some examples are:

• Equality and Human Rights
• Personal Development
• Respect and Dignity
• Rights, choice, consent, and individuality
• Values and principles

Radicalisation, Extremism and Prevent

Extremism is a way of thinking where people hold political or religious views that are vastly different from those of the majority. While people have the individual liberty to think and feel this way, if their views lead them to do and say things that cause harm to others this can lead to social problems and potentially criminal activity.

People can become radicalised in their thinking for a variety of reasons, depending on what they read and see or whom they associate with. It can happen both to individuals and to groups of people. Once radicalised, people want to change society to align with their own (often extreme) religious and/or political beliefs.

If you are worried about yourself or others who may have extreme or radical views that could be harmful, please seek further support. Speak to your tutor and/or visit the government’s website that contains several further links for help including the Act Early website. If you are concerned about criminal radical or terrorist behaviour, please call the police on 999 in an emergency, or 101 if it is not an emergency. Alternatively, you can report hate crimes here or share your concerns here.

The government-led, multi-agency Prevent programme aims to stop individuals becoming terrorists and police play a key role. We work with local authority partners and community organisations to help find solutions and work to support and protect vulnerable individuals. Find out more about the Prevent Programme here.

It is important to be alert, but not alarmed. With a little bit of knowledge, you can increase your safety and know what to do if you see or hear something that does not seem quite right, visit the Counter Terrorism Police Website to find out more information on #BeSafeBeSound.

As well as keeping safe at home, it's important to stay safe on holiday. The chances of being caught up in a terrorist incident are low but sadly we have seen atrocities both here and abroad. It is important everyone stays alert and knows what to do if the worst was to happen. Watch the Run, Hide,Tell guidance for more information and guidance: Stay Safe Abroad: Advice to Holidaymakers.

Careers and Employability

To find out more about the jobs or careers that may be perfect for you, visit our dedicated careers website Prospects and complete the quiz to match your skills and personality to over 400+ job profiles.

On Prospects, there is also a section on how to write a CV and covering letter including information on the key transferable skills that all employers look for and how to be successful in interviews.

If you a great business idea or are dreaming of being your own boss, then self-employment could be for you. To help you, you can learn more about how entrepreneurs generate ideas, the diverse types of business and how to start your own company here.

The Indeed website is also a great place to start if you're actively seeking employment, with a section called Find a career where you can explore which careers have the highest job satisfaction, best salaries, and top tips on how to find them. You can look for jobs being advertised on Indeed as well as being able to upload your CV so employers can potentially find you!

The National Careers Service also provides careers information, advice, and guidance. Helping you to make decisions on learning, training, and work at all stages in your career. You will be able to complete a skills assessment, explore over 800 career profiles, and discover what a job specification involves. You can speak to an advisor wherever you are with your decisions:

Call: 0800 100 900. or use the webchat to talk online.

Relationships

Managing relationships with others can be both rewarding and challenging, but it is these relationships with partners, friends, family, colleagues and others that are a vital part of what makes us human and contributes to our health and wellbeing.

Partner relationships often have the most significant impact so how do we know whether a relationship is healthy or unhealthy? Below is a great Ted Talk by Katie Hood which should help you decide.
 

Domestic abuse

Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, sexuality, or background. If you or someone you know needs support with these issues, please see the links in this government website for more information, websites, and links to support in the local area.

Consent

Consenting and asking for consent are all about setting your personal boundaries and respecting those of your partner and checking in if things are not clear. Sexual consent is required by everyone taking part in any sexual activity. Here is a particularly useful video discussing the concept of Consent.

Support with Caring, Families and Parenting

If you care for children, you will understand how difficult parenting can be at times, as they say, there is no manual for being a parent, however, it turns out that after years of research we do know some of the things that parents can do to help them to be better parents.

Balancing the various demands parents must cope with is not easy, and all parents can come under pressure or stress sometimes. A good place to start for further guidance is here on the NSPCC National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) website.

Find advice on all aspects of family life from bonding with your new baby, dealing with tantrums, positive discipline, bullying, communicating with teens and divorce and separation. You can also contact the confidential helpline:

Call: 0808 800 2222
Email: askus@familylives.org.uk.

Also see the government’s website which provides advice and guidance about the practicalities of raising children including the financial support that is available to parents.

Health and Wellbeing

The NHS Live Well website offers a full range of information and advice about healthy living, including eating a balanced diet, healthy weight, exercise, quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol.

As well as physical wellbeing, you can access information and self-help guides, tools and activities that can improve your mental health on the site. 10 Stress Busters is a list of actions you can take immediately if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Longer term, evidence suggests that the following the five steps opposite can help keep you feeling mentally well-balanced, more positive and able to make the most of life.

If you're a parent of children or teenagers, you can find a range of advice and support from the NHS, including tips on how to help your child with exam-related stress, teen aggression and discussing their feelings.

Feeling exhausted is so common that it even has its own acronym, TATT which stands for Tired All The Time. Find out more about sleep and tiredness at Live Well and get tips on how to improve your sleep from setting a bedtime routine to reducing screen time in the evening.

Learning how to relax takes practice, but over time it can help release tension in your body, calm your mind and improve your mental wellbeing. In this 30-minute video instructor Beth's soothing words and relaxing moves help you leave the stresses and strains of the day behind and prepare for restful sleep.

Financial Health can be particularly challenging to manage at times, the Citizens Advice website has a lot of great resources to help with financial management. The debt and money section has an array of information on how to manage debt, manage rent, mortgage arrears and other information. Use the Citizens Advice budgeting tool to help you understand what you are earning, spending and where you may be able to cut costs.

The Money Helper website brings together many aspects of information and guidance including rising rents, covering higher energy costs, or tackling debt, bringing together useful tools, calculators, and guides to help you keep on top of your money.

Online Safety

The internet has immense potential to continue to change the world and our digitally native children will be the generation that drives this change.

However, we may occasionally have to deal with a variety of sometimes challenging online safety issues and risks. Online safety issues could include cyberbullying, the pressure to take part in sexting, encouragement to self-harm and viewing pornography, along with many others. But there are positive things you can do to help prepare yourself, family, and your child to confidently tackle issues faced.

Internet Matters has created several internet safety advice hubs to help you learn more and find support for these risks. Choose from an array of internet issues here to help keep you and your children safe online.

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