Empowering Our Residents to Reach Their Potential
Across January and February, we collaborated with Buckinghamshire Adult Learning to deliver a free, short course designed to give residents a full understanding of job applications, interviews, CV writing, and digital skills. This initiative was aimed at individuals returning to work after a childcare break, considering a career change, or those who have been unemployed for an extended period. It was open to any residents aged 19 and above.
During the course, participants learned the importance of organisation and people skills, and why employers value them. They built confidence while exploring their strengths, gained insight into the responsibilities of a Business Administration role, and engaged in practical activities tailored to administrative tasks. Our Community Engagement Team also provided support, delivering a presentation to offer insight into working in the housing sector.
Residents participated for a variety of reasons, including improving their CVs, boosting confidence in English, and enhancing skills to take the first step into employment. Several attendees expressed interest in joining our Involved Residents groups or participating in further learning opportunities, and one resident has signed up for our Resident Policy Review Group.
Notably, one resident who completed a previous Boost Your Potential course successfully applied, interviewed, and joined our Community Engagement Team as an apprentice.
Participants reported feeling more confident in applying for roles. One said:
“Six sessions with two fantastically supportive team leaders, seven equally fantastic other students, and three weeks of discovering new career possibilities and opportunities — all in a relaxed, friendly, fun, and supportive environment.”
Another added:
“I feel the team went above and beyond, especially during my onboarding. They took extra time to walk me through processes, answer questions, and make sure I felt confident.”
Janeane Sullivan, Community Engagement Officer, commented:
“Boost Your Potential is about giving residents the tools and support to take their next step, and the residents who completed the course this year truly embraced the opportunity. It was fantastic to see everyone grow in confidence week by week. The free course provides practical skills, but more importantly, it shows residents what they’re capable of. Every participant walked away feeling more prepared, motivated, and proud of themselves. They developed stronger CVs, improved interview skills, and built digital confidence but also gained real belief in their own potential. The progress they made in just a few weeks highlights how valuable this course is, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s.”
For further information about the course, please visit our Boost Your Potential webpage.
