Tenant Academy

Training courses for tenants

The Tenant Academy team provides free support for Swindon Borough Council tenants to access local and online training opportunities. In partnership with Adult Community Learning, New College Adult Learning Centre and other local providers, we can help you find the right training to:

  • improve your life skills
  • support your mental health
  • gain new qualifications to kick-start your career

How to get started

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help, you can:

A team member will contact you to discuss your needs and next steps.

Qualifications, skills and training

Develop your maths skills.

This course will help you to improve your numeracy skills and confidence in using numbers in everyday life. This course is for people whose first language isn't English. 

Training by Adult Community Learning.

Multiply courses are designed to help you feel confident with maths. If you feel anxious when thinking about numbers, or regularly say you are rubbish at maths, you are not alone.

Multiply aims to support eligible adults who want to feel more confident in maths for work or who do not currently have level two GCSE maths at grade four or above, previously known as a C grade or an O Level.

Our free courses and support will focus on practical maths skills including:

  • building basic numeracy skills
  • maths skills to help advance your career or progress at work
  • reducing maths anxiety and increasing confidence
  • work related maths skills
  • helping your child with maths
  • bitesize practical solutions to budgeting and cost saving

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information and to book on to the course.

These courses will help learners to develop their IT skills and knowledge whilst showing you how to stay safe online. Whether you are an absolute beginner or want to improve your skills these Getting Connected courses could help you.

This course covers how to get the most out of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and is suitable for those who already have some knowledge of these packages and who would like to develop their skills further.

Delivered in a relaxed and friendly environment from our site in Swindon town centre (two minutes from main train and bus stations) this course is available for those aged 19 years and over.

This course is free for those that meet the eligibility criteria (claiming UC, JSA, ESA or classed as a low earner - please contact for further details).

  • Location: New College Adult Education Centre, Focal Point, Fleet Street, Swindon SN1 1RQ
  • Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information

Eat Well, Pay Less - for beginners.

This course is aimed at people who have limited cooking skills, to enable them to develop knowledge and skills to plan and create healthy and affordable home-cooked food using basic cooking techniques.

Each week you will cook tasty affordable meals in a supportive environment that you will share together.

By the end of this course you will:

  • understand how cooking can support health and wellbeing
  • use your skills to cook basic, tasty, affordable meals at home

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information and to book on to the course.

In partnership with Adult Community Learning.

Complete an accredited qualification in food safety and hygiene at a community venue near you.

We also offer bespoke courses that will give you the opportunity to learn about:

  • type two diabetes and healthy eating
  • cooking on a budget
  • healthy cooking demo
  • healthy cooking class
  • fundamentals of healthy eating

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information and to book on to the course.

CSCS stands for Construction Skills Certification Scheme and is the leading skills certification scheme within the UK construction industry.

A three-day construction course including:

  • your health and safety test
  • CITB test and green card

You must attend all three sessions.

Workshops in home maintenance

In partnership with Adult Community Learning.

Our DIY plumbing courses are designed to equip you with the basic skills to confidently take on plumbing jobs around the house. This workshop is held in small groups so that everybody has the space to get hands-on with new practical skills, receive one-on-one support and have time for questions.

Subjects covered include:

  • how to change a tap washer
  • how to cut copper and plastic pipe
  • how to use the Speed Fit plumbing system
  • how to take out a U bend
  • how to change a ballcock and valve in a cistern

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information.

Coming soon.

Learn how to use hand tools and power tools to gain the skills and confidence to use them for DIY. The tools used are also part of the Toolshare scheme and can be borrowed for free by local residents.

Subjects covered include:

  • learning how to use hand tools and power tools to gain the skills and confidence to use them for DIY purposes
  • introduction to DIY woodworking tools - manual and electric
  • how to build a bird box
  • how to build a coat hook
  • woodworking - mitre cuts, draft proofing, skirting

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information.

Coming soon.

Understand why, how and where houses lose heat, how heat-loss is measured and how to calculate U values (how good a material is at insulation) from basic data. Learn how to find the target insulation values, which apply when 'thermal elements' are upgraded. Understand the damp and moisture risks when insulating buildings and how to minimise them.

You will also learn about:

  • heat-loss in the home
  • U values and measuring heat-loss
  • building regulations and thermal performance
  • building health and safety
  • insulation and moisture control
  • airtightness and ventilation

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information.

Budgeting and financial awareness

One to one support on how to manage your finances led by an instructor covering:

  • what budgeting means
  • how to categorise your spending
  • planning - how to spend
  • creating your own budget

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information.

Loan sharks target those who could potentially be financially vulnerable. We have set up a course to help people identify what a loan shark looks like and where you can get an affordable loan from a trustworthy source.

Do you think you could spot a Loan shark? Join our free course and find out.

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information.

Health and wellbeing

In partnership with Alzheimer's Society.

The UK’s number one dementia charity are holding a course to increase dementia awareness. The course covers:

  • What is dementia?
  • How does a person with dementia see the world?
  • Types of dementia and the physical effects
  • How dementia effects people
  • Challenges
  • Support
  • Symptom checklist

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information.

Learn how to manage the symptoms of dementia and support vulnerable adults in this free online caregiving course. The course provides practical expertise to help you manage the symptoms of dementia.

Topics explored include:

  • identifying various types of dementia and their symptoms
  • assessing risk factors
  • making accurate diagnoses
  • implementing effective treatment and support approaches

Learn valuable strategies and support techniques used to enhance caregiving and improve the quality of life for those living with dementia.

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information.

Training by Whitehead Ross Education.

A one day, Level 3 course within first aid training, accessible to those with no previous experience, whilst also being a good refresher for those with expired certification.

The course is both theory and practical and covers a variety of medical emergencies and topics including:

  • CPR
  • Choking
  • Bleeding
  • Role of the first aider in the workplace and assessing incidents

The qualification is valid for three years and is widely recognised as a thorough insight into confidently applying first aid knowledge in and out of the workplace.

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information and to book on to the course.

In partnership with Mind.

This online course, facilitated by Mind, will help you build confidence in how to have conversations about mental health and wellbeing and to be there for others in the community.

It won’t make you a mental health professional, but you don’t need to be a professional to be there for the people around you.

Benefits of this course include:

  • It’s free for anyone to do
  • It’s online so you can do it from anywhere
  • It takes about 90 minutes in total, but you can leave to take breaks and it will save your progress
  • It contains video examples of people talking and practice scenarios for you to try
  • It’s self-guided - there are no tests and no one will assess you
  • It’s been co-produced with people who have experience of mental health problems

Email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk for more information.

Employability and work ready support

We offer one-to-one support to help you build the skills and confidence needed to return to work or start your career for the first time. Our team also collaborates with training providers to find the best opportunities for you.

Our employability support includes:

  • CV and cover letter writing - what should be included on a CV and cover letter
  • Job searching and advertising your CV
  • Completing job applications
  • Interview techniques
  • Interview practice
  • Work experience

To learn more about how we can support you, email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk.

Quotes from tenants

The course was helpful, and I have learnt to budget better” and, “I am now able to bulk cook and save money.
- Tenant Academy participant
The course was very informative, well explained and I have learnt more on council tenancies, benefits and repairs
- Tenant Academy participant

Stay updated

  • Follow us on Facebook: Keep up to date with Tenant Academy offerings by following our Facebook page
  • Community and housing news: For updates on community and housing services, follow the Swindon Housing Facebook page

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