Frequently asked questions

• ‘I don’t want to go back to school or college. Is that what this is? How are courses delivered?’

  Our courses aren’t traditional college or school subjects and aren’t delivered in a traditional way. We believe that we all have something to learn and we are all on our own recovery journey.  If you attend a course you won’t be sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher talk while you take notes. Instead you’ll have opportunities to discuss subjects that interest you, learn at your own pace and share your expertise.

• "I have some physical mobility problems - is the College accessible to me?"

  Yes. Our classrooms are based on the ground floor and are fully accessible. If you have any concerns about your mobility and attending the College please contact us on 01226 730433.

• "Will attending the College affect my benefits?"

  The Exchange is total independent from the DWP and we have no involvement in any decision made about your benefit entitlement.

• "What happens if I'm not able to attend the whole course?"

  We understand that it may be difficult to attend the full course and ask that you let us know if you are unable to attend.

  If you cannot attend 2 sessions out of the full course, we will suggest that you re-book for a future date.

• "What if I need some extra support with studying once the course has started?"

  This may involve meeting with staff on a one to one basis to talk through and discuss the course content or to help you complete any work that you have found difficult to complete in the session.

• "Can I come on a course twice?"

  No, this isn’t usually allowed, only under exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the course facilitator.

• "I'm worried about my IT skills, do I need to use a computer to complete a course?"

  No. IT skills aren’t a requirement, however, if you would like to develop your skills in this area, then we offer a digital resilience course or we can signpost you

   

• "Will I definitely get a place on the course I want?"

  Due to popularity some courses may book up quickly. Where this is the case, where possible, we will be able to offer alternative dates or suggest a different course.

• "Will I need to complete any tests or exams?"

  No, there are no exams or tests. On occasion we may offer accredited courses – this may require some evidence of learning. This will be discussed with you at the time of the enrolment to make sure that you are aware of the course expectations.

• "What happens once I've finished my course?"

  One of our key aims is to provide you with the time and space to decide on your next steps and build the confidence to take them. This may be moving on to another course with us, a course with someone else or thinking about other steps including moving into volunteering or paid work.

  Whatever your next steps we have someone on hand who is happy to guide you in thinking about and accessing future goals.