The Barclays Life Skills Employer Skills Academy was launched in September 2022. This academy was designed to support all of our college students to develop the life skills and knowledge that they may need at some time in their life. This academy allowed us to create a safe space for all of our students in which they could access information they may not otherwise be able to access. This included Finances, Mental Health and Wellbeing.
The Barclays Life Skills Employer Skills Academy allowed all College students to access online and in person training to develop their professional and social skills. All students and staff could access the free training through self-enrolment and it had unlimited uses, so they could receive support throughout the duration of their study programme.
Both the Digital Wings and Life Skills online platforms were open to all of our students at The Sheffield College, and they offered valuable advice on where students could find help and support for themselves and their peers.
As part of our Barclays Life Skills Employer Skills Academy, we had a team of Wellbeing Ambassadors (previously known as Mental Health Ambassadors) that promoted positive and healthy life choices through various activities within the College. The ambassadors held social events for our students on a monthly basis and also took part in fundraising projects, supporting local Sheffield charities throughout the year.
Liam Mitchell, Head of Learning at Barclays Digital Eagles
Barclays are a British universal bank. They support consumers and small businesses through their retail banking services, and larger businesses and institutions through their corporate and investment banking services.
Barclays offers two streams of programmes to support and develop their community knowledge on life skills and finances, these are Barclays Digital Wings and Barclays LifeSkills. The Essential Digital Skills Framework defines the digital skills adults need to safely benefit from, participate in and contribute to the digital world. These learning modules include but are not limited to:
Barclays LifeSkills have one single-minded ambition – ‘to inspire young people to get the skills they need for a better future.’ LifeSkills works with teachers, parents and businesses to help young people: