News for students, parents and carers
So we can keep you and our staff safe, we have stopped face to face contact and our careers advisers are now offering advice and support over the phone and online to students and their parents and carers.
We've launched our new Chat service ...
... offering you different ways to get in touch. We’ll support you to figure out your next steps, so whatever is on your mind, get information, advice, support and guidance via our Chat service. Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Ring 01484 213856
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Look out for our Facebook Messenger
Want to talk to a careers advisers from one of our centres?
- Huddersfield - 01484 213855
- Dewsbury - 01924 683911
- Halifax - 01422 754300

Check out our animation and Be kind to yourself!
Meet me and my friends below too
Latest information - see also our events calendar
- UK Youth Voice Census - if you're aged between 14 and 24 have your say about what changes you'd like to see in how you are supported in study, life and work, closing date 1 June - New 1 April 2021
- Take a look at Chat 9, the latest issue of our newsletter (123 kb PDF) - New 29 March 2021
- Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which usually takes place in November, has produced a series of online career talks for students with a range of major Leeds-based engineering and manufactuuring companies - New 25 March 2021
- Code First Girls runs courses to get women into computer coding: - New 24 March 2021
- Kick-starter - two free course for girls aged 18 to 23 or university student or have studied in the last two years
- Career switcher for women, designed to fit around work. The eight module courses cost £685, including VAT.
Courses are remotely run and are being added all the time, so keep checking the site W: https://codefirstgirls.org.uk/ - The Creative Minds Team, in collaboration with Musica Kirklees, and BBC Children in Need, is running a free singing project Young Creative Minds & Voices, focusing on singing for fun and wellbeing - New 23 March 2021
The project is open to anyone aged 11-18. The project is run by NHS trained Professional Singing Tutors with input from some of the other collaborating organisations. It starts initially on Zoom on:
- Thursdays 4.45pm to 6pm, term time from April 15 2021. Group based at Batley Grammar School when restrictions allow
- Fridays 4.45pm to 6pm, term time only from April 16 2021. Group based at Colne Valley high school when restrictions allow.
Watch this film to find out about the project
For more information, see Facebook: www.facebook.com/Creat1ve.M1nds Twitter: @Creat1ve_M1nds
- UCAS discovery days, 5 and 6 May 2021, between 10am to 6pm. For information and to book - New 18 March 2021
UCAS has produced a discovery toolkit for schools and colleges to help students get the most out of its new series of discovery days
W: www.ucas.com/advisers/introducing-ucasdiscoverdays/ucasdiscovery-toolkit-schools-and-colleges - University of Bradford - New 18 March 2021
Webinars on going to uni and other topics, including, finance and accommodation. For information and to register - Dream Bigger - Nat West is running courses for young people and particularly young women, aged between 16 and 18, to develop transferrable entrepreneurial skills, which will prepare them for jobs and future work, and for running their own business - New 15 March 2021
- Leeds Trinity University, West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges and Go Train are currently offering [Re]boot your career, free online courses for anyone who has been furloughed or is looking for a new project whilst at home. For information and to apply - 25 February 2021
- PwC, the finance and multinational professional services company, is holding a virtual insight week, Monday 26 July to Friday 30 July 2021, for people interested in a career at the company. Find out more and apply to attend online - closing date 14 March 2021 - 23 February 2021
- C&K Labour Market & Careers News for Calderdale and Kirklees, issue 55, February 2021, (1.09MB PDF) - 23 February 2021
- #ThisIsPE, home learning resources for PE from Yorkshire Sport Foundation have been approved by the Department for Education (DfE) DfE approved resource for home learning on sportsuite.co.uk - 18 January 2021
- The Royal Veterinary College 2021 summer schools are now available for Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 - 7 January 2021
W: www.rvc.ac.uk/study/rvc-is-open-for-all/widening-participation/opportunities - The National Careers Service is holding Live Jobs Fairs, keep checking Twitter and Facebook for this and other information - updated 16 November 2020
- Autumn NCS (National Citizen Service) Programme -17 September 2020
The programme is free to all students in Year 11 and 12, and young people not in education, employment or training aged between 16 and 18. It will include outdoor activities, opportunities to learn new skills, meet new people and finishes with a social action project that will help your local community. It will take place over October half term and the social action hours will take plave over weekends and evenings. I would appreciate if we can have a presence in school to promote this but understand if external visitors are limited due to the current situation. If you are interested contact our Chat service - see details above - Kirklees Primary Care Network is looking for volunteers to meet, greet and direct people in Batley, Birstall and Dewsbury to winter flu vaccination sessions (338kb JPG). Can you offer a minimum of four hours a week over 13 weeks from September? To apply, text, email or phone Sam at Batley & Birstall Community Anchor Team T: 07928 890796
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 3 September 2020 - involved.UK - is a new government Instagram site; it is a tool to let 13 to 25 year olds have a say in their future, designed by young people. The site will help government decision making on policies and services for young people. The youth steering group for involved.UK is looking for new members, the closing date to apply is 12 July - 6 July 2020
- Careers in allied health professions free webinars covering art, drama, music, speech, and physiotherapies, dietitian, podiatrist, ragiographer and more for Y6 up to Y13 - 1 May 2020
- Colleges and sixth form admissions across Calderdale, Kirklees and the wider area
- Apprenticeships and training offers across Calderdale, Kirklees and the wider area
- Youth Central - checked 1 September 2020
Live in Kirklees? Check out the workshops and advice available on the virtual Youth Centre - register now on Youth Central - there are lots of activities and individual advice - Preparing for a job interview during the current crisis? See LinkedIn and contact C&K Chat for more help on interview questions during the COVID crisis
- UCAS virtual open days - for more information and to book - 9 September 2020
UCAS update - includes under 'Updates for students', information on applications and virtual open days - checked 1 September 2020
UCAS has opened applications for students hoping to start university in 2021. You can explore subjects and location guides, attend a virtual open event and chat to a uni student - checked 1 September 2020
Clearing Plus will offer a new personalised service to match undergraduate applicants without a place to relevant courses with vacancies - checked 1 September 2020
See also Unitaster days supported by HELOA, the professional association of Higher Education staff - weekly university guidance webinars #UTDIAG - checked 1 September 2020
UCAS hub live dates are continuing - series of sessions to help you find out about and apply for university and degree apprenticeships - checked 1 September 2020
In Y12 and hoping to study medicine or dentistry? - UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) test are now open for students to register. The advice is to register and take the test as soon as possible - see UCAT information - checked 1 September 2020
The Cambridge BMAT practice tests for biomedical courses are also available. Information about this and other Cambridge tests during the current crisis can be found on the website - checked 1 September 2020
- Check out our Careers website and resources page - checked 1 September 2020
- Need information, support and advice about coronavirus or other things you're worried about? - checked 1 September 2020
- Live in Calderdale? Contact:
- *Time Out Listening Line is provided by Healthy Minds. It offers support for 10 to 19 year olds in Calderdale during the lock down. T: 01422 345154, open Wednesdays 1pm to 4pm. You can also Text: 07418 311736. Listening Line offers extra support to help reduce stress and anxiety and cope with change. You can now be contactable by text message as well as by phone. You will be offered a few appointment slots with a member of the Time Out staff, so you can choose one to suit you (277kb PDF)
- Community response for vulnerable people
- *Worry Cards on Returning to Education - created by young people for young people with the help of Open Minds Calderdale
- Calderdale Council COVID information - Live in Kirklees? - checked 1 September 2020
- Thriving Kirklees - informastion and support for young people and families 24hrs/7days a week T: 0300 304 5555
- Community Response helpline - say what you need help with, or how you can help others T: 01484 226919, open 8am to 6pm weekdays
- *Community response for vulnerable people - LGBT Foundation is offering remote service support. See its website or contact the helpline 0345 3 303030 - checked 1 September 2020
- Listening Works national helpline - support for care leavers, open 6pm to 12midnight T: 0808 802 0222 Text: 07860 065 169 Webchat: www.family-action.org.uk/listening-works
- Live in Calderdale? Contact:
- Careers story and advice from Bejay, a 24 year old entrepreneur on the Careers & Enterprise Company Work It YouTube channel - checked 1 September 2020
- BBC bitesize - support and resources for primary, secondary and sixth form post 16 students - checked 1 September 2020
Online Classroom - subject lessons for year groups from reception to Y10 from Oak National Academy - checked 1 September 2020 ,planning more for the autumn term
See also the government's Skills Toolkit - free online digital and numeracy courses - checked 1 September 2020
The Open University offers free short courses across a range of subjects for those of you who want to explore subjects, do a short course and get evidence to show it - checked 1 September 2020
MSE’s Academy of Money - new free course from the Open University and MoneySavingExpert (MSE) to give you the skills and knowledge to manage your finances - checked 1 September 2020
- Fusion Housing's community learning is now online, courses cover a range of topics, including cooking, nutrition, and health and wellbeing. You must be 19 years or over, live in Kirklees, unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week to join a course.
If you have a laptop,a tablet or a smart phone, and you want to join a course contact 01484 532280 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see Fusion workshops and courses at the bottom of the Works Better page on the Fusion website - checked 1 September 2020 - WEA (Workers Educational Association) is offering a range of courses and taster courses, in lots of subjects from art, English, maths, English for other language speakers, community, health, history, languages, writing, sciences and more. See Live online learning - checked 1 September 2020
- Updated government guidance on working safely W: www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19 - checked 1 September 2020
- Amazing Apprenticeships 50 support activities for apprentices, training providers and employers. Amazing has also updated its ASK (Apprenticeship and Support and Knowledge) programme for schools and colleges - 2checked 1 September 2020
- Want to [re]boot your career? - online digital courses to boost your skills offered by Leeds Trinity University and West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges. For anyone over 18, employed or furloughed and living in Calderdale, Kirklees, Bradford, Craven, Harrogate, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield or York - checked 1 September 2020
- Coranavirus Anxiety Workbook - tools and techniques for dealing with coronavirus anxiety for the Wellness Society (547kb PDF) - 23 April 2020
- Coping during the COVID-19 lockdown - we'd like to share with you some things to help you find something positive every day (123kb PDF) - 6 April 2020
- Benefits - employment and benefits support, including Universal Credit, sick pay, furlough and more - checked 1 September 2020
- The University of Leeds - online presentations and resources for school and college students and Future learn STEM taster courses (science, technology, engineering and maths) - checked 1 September 2020
- Employee annual leave entitlement - government regulations -checked 1 September 2020