Free training for residents

 Find a course

Your Community Training Officer can help you find a course that best suits you. 

About Southwark's free training 

We offer residents a wide range of training courses. Courses are delivered informally. You don't need prior qualifications to take part; you just need to be willing to join in and to learn. 

We supply free and affordable broadband in community buildings and estates across the borough. 

We are committed to fairer futures - to uniting and connecting communities across the whole borough. We stand against all forms of discrimination and racism. 

Management skills 

These courses are tailored for people looking to learn how to manage community organisations, but anyone can take these courses to enhance their CV. 

 
Social housing 

 
Health and safety including fire safety 

 
First Aid 

 
Health and wellbeing 

 
Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults  

 
Food and drink 

 
Digital skills 

You can access Digital Skills training from Southwark Council. To learn more about the options available, email your Community Training Officers. 

 
Other courses 

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Browse a full list of our courses

In-house live virtual classrooms 

We provide a series of live virtual courses. These are group sessions run by a tutor, usually over Zoom or Teams. They last for 90-120 minutes. 

After the sessions, learners are sent relevant e-learning aids which they can use to continue their learning. These include: 

  • short videos 
  • podcasts 
  • blogs 
  • written instructions 
  • checklists 
  • tutorials 
  • webinars 
  • screencasts 

This supporting e-learning content is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Course list: 

  • using Zoom for Tenant and Residents meetings 
  • Involving People - Valuing Diversity 
  • Emotional/Cultural Intelligence 

All Live virtual classrooms courses are CPD (Continual Professional Development office) accredited. When you have completed your training and a course evaluation form, you'll receive an electronic certificate. 

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Virtual College online courses 

We've teamed up with Virtual College (VC) to offer Southwark residents over 100 engaging, online training courses. (pdf, 1.5mb) 

All VC courses are: 

  • free to Southwark residents when they're booked through our VC portal 
  • accredited by City & Guild or Continuous Professional Development office (CPD) 

You can access the courses with a computer, laptop or tablet with an internet connection. 

As there's no tutor, you choose when to study. You can complete the courses at a pace that suits you. 

Once you've passed the online multiple choice assessment, you'll be able to print your electronic certificate. 

You can choose courses from the topic groups below: 

  • Business compliance 
  • Food and drink 
  • Health and safety 
  • Health and wellbeing 
  • Leadership and management 
  • Personal and professional development 
  • Safeguarding 
  • Social housing 

Register and book your free Virtual College course 

For more information on Virtual College courses email us or call 020 7575 3326. 

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Free courses in Southwark or Lambeth  

This initiative offers fully funded online courses to: 

  • individuals 
  • staff of organisations of any size in the voluntary, private and public sector 

There are over 45 self-paced, online training courses to choose from. Many of these teach skills that can be used in the workplace. You can also gain level 2 and 3 accredited qualifications through some courses. These are available through NCFE (Northern Council for Further Education). 

The courses include optional online support from a tutor. The average completion time for each NCFE course is around 12 weeks depending on your availability. 

Book your free course with the Free Courses in Southwark or Lambeth initiative  

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In-house training courses 

Face to face training to Southwark Tenants and Residents Associations, run by Southwark Council. The training aims to increase people's confidence, knowledge and skills, so that it is easier: 

  • for people to have their say in how housing services are run 
  • for TRAs to work with the council to improve housing services 

The training is: 

  • accredited by the Continuous Professional Development office (CPD) 
  • delivered by Southwark’s Resident Involvement Community Training Officers at local venues. 

Courses include: 

  • Know Your TRA Constitution - (TRA Scenarios) 
  • Committee Skills - (Chair and Secretary Role Plays) 
  • How to Chair a meeting - (Chair Role Plays) 
  • Secretary Skills - ( Secretary Minute Taking Role Plays) 
  • How to Apply for Funding (external TRA Scenarios) 
  • Treasurer Skills - (Examination of Accounts) 
  • Public Speaking Skills Part 1 - (Give brief presentations) 
  • Public Speaking Skills Part 2 - (Presentation from Homework) 
  • Health and Safety in TRA Halls 
  • Annual General Meeting Skills 
  • The Law and Your TRA 
  • TRA Hall Management 
  • How to Organise A Fun-day/Event 

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In-house premises training 

We offer training to people who want to develop the skills they need to run a community space. 

This training is accredited by the Continuous Professional Development office (CPD). You will receive 1 CPD point for every hour you spend learning: 

  • essential fire safety and practical fire extinguisher training 
  • health and safety in your community space or hall 
  • managing a community space or hall 

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Level 2 qualifications 

In one day or less, you can walk away with a nationally recognised level 2 qualification to help give your CV a boost. 

These qualifications are accredited by Highfield and the Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE).  They are offered in the following subjects: 

  • Health and safety at work 
  • Food safety in catering 
  • First aid at work 
  • Risk assessment 
  • Manual handling 
  • Conflict resolution and personal safety 
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 
  • Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children 

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Building compliance accredited courses 

We provide courses on building compliance for people who work in: 

  • Tenant and Residents Association (TRA) halls 
  • other community spaces 

These courses can help you to: 

  • keep your hall users and hirers safe 
  • stay on the right side of the law 
  • develop skills you can use in the workplace 

The courses listed are delivered by fully qualified and external trainers, in an informal classroom setting. 

It usually take a day or less to gain a level 2 or 3 qualification. The qualifications are certified by the Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE). 

Course list: 

  • Essential fire safety and practical fire extinguisher training* 
  • Health and safety at work 
  • Food safety in catering 
  • First aid at work 
  • Risk assessment 
  • Manual handling 
  • Fire safety and practical fire extinguisher training 
  • Conflict resolution and personal safety 
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CCOSH) 
  • Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children 
  • First aid for pets 
  • Paediatric first aid 
  • Mental health first aid 

*This course is mandatory for volunteers who work in TRA halls or community spaces with fire extinguishers on site. It is accredited by the Continuous Professional Development office (CPD).  

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Problems accessing your course?

If you are having problems accessing a course, or are having technical issues, email George or email Paulette for support.

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Page last updated: 09 February 2023

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