40+ useful links to help with employment
Useful website links to help with finding a job, getting back to work, building your CV and more...
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Local links in Central Bedfordshire
The Bromham Road office in Bedford has a trained team of staff and volunteers who can give independent advice on many topics for older people in Bedfordshire. 01234 360 510 – lines are open 9.30am – 4.00pm, Monday – Friday. The Age UK website provides a page on work and learning information for people in later life; including looking for work, redundancy and external links for different classes and courses, including computer training.
Providing employment advice and support to people who want to enter employment and/or seeking to improve their career.
Previously known as Bromford Support, this service has transitioned over to Central Bedfordshire Council and aims to support people who either have little or no experience of living independently, a history of homelessness or experiencing tenancy breakdown.
The following courses are for anyone over 19 and working less than 16 hours or are unemployed. These courses are designed to help with employment. For more information on any of these courses contact Jo Divney on 01525 850559 and click the below links to view them.
The above link will take you to the Directgov job search page where there are hundreds of job vacancies in Central Bedfordshire.
Helping people who have autism, a learning disability or a mental health condition to make progress towards the labour market. Call 01234 832641 or click the above link title to know more.
Develop give the opportunity for people to develop the skills that employers are looking for. Many of the courses run through Central Bedfordshire.
Central Bedfordshire work clubs are aimed at adults who are looking for work, training, further learning or volunteering.
Work clubs in Central Bedfordshire are in Biggleswade, Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard.
Local links to employment support in Luton
Find a job
Careers hub at Luton Borough Council
Search council, school and other jobs available in Luton.
Self Employment
Advice on starting your own business from Luton Borough Council
Self employed and sole trader income calculator
Helping carers in Luton
Please contact our Carers Central team if you would like to speak to Sally and Levi from our carer support team, for free and confidential assistance about employment for unpaid carers in Luton. We help unpaid carers with advice and support on many topics so please do get in touch.
Links to national websites and services
Search for courses and training online and get advice on qualifications and funding.
Take a few minutes to review your skills and strengths. There are 4 assessments covering personal skills and 6 that cover your work activities.
Learn My Way provides free IT/ digital online courses for beginners.
Job search and vacancies from Jobcentre Plus
You can register and get notifications on new vacancies via JCP.
You can search Indeed for vacancies and apply online.
Search for an apprenticeship by clicking the link above
Working as a Personal Assistant
Local training directory – All the locally available training for PAs, carers and healthcare professionals is available on the BMLK training directory pages covering Luton, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.
Skills for Care – You can access PA training through the Skills for Care website
Care Academy – The Disability Resource Centre have there own specialist training programme for carers, PAs and employers. Please contact the team for the latest training available through our Care Academy.
The Disability Resource Centre is pleased to partner with CarePair to advertise jobs from employers who are looking to recruit personal assistants. To get started please visit the CarePair website. If you have any issues with creating an account they will be happy to help, just call 01582 470 900.
Advice for job seekers
JCP provide a lot of advice and support to jobseekers on careers and job searching.
Links to online tools & useful websites:
Benefits Calculator – Find out what benefits you are entitled to.
Employment Allowance Calculator – You can add a number of employees and their salaries to see the overall effect on your payroll.
Job seeker’s allowance– The government provides job seekers allowance for those who are unemployed but are looking for employment.
Includes information on rights at work, problems at work, when work comes to an end, young people & employment and many more sections.
Acas provides information, advice, training, conciliation and other services for employers and employees to help prevent or resolve workplace problems.
A free and impartial government service that helps you understand your new pension options.
The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) is here to give people professional, independent and impartial help with their pensions – for free. Their helpline – 0300 123 1047 – is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Employer line offers help and support for employers and business owners.
Free advice helpline- 0800 274 637
Action for Blind People is a national charity with local reach, providing practical help and support to blind and partially sighted people of all ages. They offer visually impaired people help to find a job.
The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities.
The Health & Safety Executive website has information regarding work related health and safety issues for many occupations and how to prevent health risks- such as dermatitis or asbestos related illnesses.
TCHC offers a range of government-funded services to employers, employees and job seekers. They can help in many areas such as redundancy, apprenticeships or training.
We are a voluntary and community sector support organisation that develops, enables, promotes and supports local voluntary and community action (including volunteering) across Bedfordshire.
Digital inclusion – Read this comprehensive guide to disability inclusion in the workplace which was provided by Ben.
If you know of any employment support services near you then please email us and we will update this page with your suggestions. Thanks very much.
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Our 30 years celebration curry night raised over £700 for our charity
Thanks to amazing support and generous donations, we raised over £700. These funds will go directly towards providing vital services for people with disabilities and health conditions in our community.
We attended a Men’s Health Awareness event in Dunstable
Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire hosted the Men’s Health Awareness event in partnership with Chiltern Hills PCN. The Disability Resource Centre was one of over 20 organisations at the event.
MSK ActiveWell: A new and free musculoskeletal condition support programme
If you are struggling with a musculoskeletal condition, feeling stuck on waiting lists, and unsure of how to manage your pain, and regain control of your life, then our new MSK ActiveWell programme could be the answer. Within a week of joining, you’ll start your wellbeing journey, designed specifically for your needs, guided by our qualified Health and Wellbeing Practitioner.
Mental health matters: A guide, case study and local links for people living with a disability
Living with a disability can impact mental wellbeing and our article highlights 3 key things that may help. Read how Rebecca ‘mustered the courage to seek help’ and is now encouraging others, saying ‘seeking help is a sign of strength’. At the end we include details and local links to mental health support services in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
Please donate second-hand wheelchairs, tri-walkers, rollators to our charity
Our charity needs more equipment to sell in our shop at the Mayfield Centre in Dunstable. Please donate wheelchairs, rollators/walkers, rise and recliner chairs, walking sticks, mobility scooters and more.
Your open door to advice in Central Bedfordshire
AdviceCentral helps residents of Central Bedfordshire to find the best local and national advice on a wide range of topics including:
Help for carers in Luton
We offer lots of free 1-2-1 help and advice by phone, email and online meetups.
