East Coast College is proud to announce that the Apollo Project will be continuing for a third year starting September 2025, thanks to support from NHS England.
This initiative is designed to strengthen Employment, Training and Retention within the Health and Social Care sector, offering tailored support across Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Our dedicated team of person-centered job coaches work closely with individuals to help them find meaningful roles and grow within the sector.
East Coast College has launched a series of short courses to support recruitment and staff development, ideal for:
- Upskilling current staff
- Supporting new recruits
- Enhancing career progression
Funding opportunities are available to make these courses accessible to all.
Whether you’re an employer looking to build your team or an individual ready to take the next step in your career, the Apollo Project is here to help you thrive.
Available Courses:
If you would like to know more about these courses or wish to sign up to attend, please get in touch at apollo@eastcoast.ac.uk
| Course Name: | Course Description: | Location and Dates: |
| Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace | The purpose of this qualification is to give learners the skills to support colleagues with mental health problems. These skills will be gained by increasing the learner’s knowledge and understanding of mental health conditions and the principles of mental health first aid and how this can be implemented in the workplace. This qualification is suitable for learners who wish to raise awareness of mental health, creating a culture of care and the promotion of positive mental health. This qualification gives learners the opportunity to understand mental health, its associated care and how this can be applied to learners or colleagues in the workplace. | Great Yarmouth: November 17th and 18th, 2025 Lowestoft: March 2nd and 3rd 2026 June 2nd and 3rd 2026 |
| Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Cancer Support | The Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Cancer Support is designed for learners who want to increase their knowledge and understanding of supporting adults living with cancer. It could be used as a continuous professional development (CPD) qualification for learners already working within the health care and social care sectors or for individuals providing informal care. | Great Yarmouth: December 8th, 9th and 10th 2025 Lowestoft: November 25th, 26th and 27th 2025 |
| Level 2 Understanding Autism | This qualification is designed for learners who wish to develop an understanding of autism and how to support autistic individuals. This will also help learners to progress within employment in a variety of sectors and in a number of job roles where an understanding of autism and knowledge of how to support autistic individuals is required. | Great Yarmouth: January 12th and 13th 2026 May 29th and 30th 2026 Lowestoft: December 17th and 18th 2025 May 7th and 8th 2026 |
| Level 2 Award in Helping Skills | This qualification is designed for anyone who uses, or would like to use, helping skills at work or in a personal capacity. This may include learners who wish to progress towards further qualifications, or learners who wish to study this programme in order to complement other programmes (for example health and social care, children’s care, learning and development, voluntary and community work). | Great Yarmouth: February 18th 2026 Lowestoft: September 25th 2025 |
| Level 2 Award in Awareness of Dementia | The qualification aims to develop learners’ knowledge and awareness of dementia for those working in social care settings. It is aimed at learners in school or college, or those working for local authorities or private commercial homeowners. Learners will develop an understanding and awareness of the causes and symptoms of dementia, allowing for progression to the Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care. It may also allow learners to progress into employment in social care settings. | Great Yarmouth: December 3rd 2025 Lowestoft: September 24th 2025 March 18th 2026 |
| Level 2 Falls Prevention | The learner will be asked to produce a portfolio of work to cover 4 units for this certificate. You will be supported to explore what a fall is, what the risk factors for falls are and how risk may be reduced. Looking at the holistic picture, you will be supported to understand how multifactorial risk assessments can enable and empower those at risk, at reduce fall risks. We will also look at how to manage falls when they do occur. This is a valuable course for anyone working with other adults, or those more prone to falls. This course runs over two days. | Great Yarmouth: October 29th and 30th 2025 Lowestoft: March 16th and 17th 2026 June 16th and 17th 2026 |
| Level 2 Mental Health Certificate | This two-day course looks at mental health in the workplace and how colleagues and managers can support good mental health. Also exploring how to support someone who is unwell or experiencing a mental health crisis. The course gives you an opportunity to explore mental health action plans. Past attendees have gone on to implement these in their workplace in order to support their staff, which will be completed by way of work. | Lowestoft: January 7th and 8th 2026 January 14th and 15th 2026 |
| Level 2 Award in Stroke Awareness | This one-day course explores what a stroke is and how it could present. Exploring the risk factors of a stroke and how to reduce these. Looking at treatment, the learner will be supported to understand first aid in the event of a stroke | Great Yarmouth: December 2nd 2025 February 12th 2026 Lowestoft: May 27th 2026 |
| Level 2 Certificate in Information, Advice and Guidance | Over five units the learner is supported to explore the difference between information, advice and guidance and how to support clients in a professional and client focused manner. Exploring signposting and referral, you will also be able to understand how to use a collaborative approach to client support. This certificate supports any working role where information, advice and guidance are part of the work process. This course runs over two days. | Great Yarmouth: December 3rd and 11th 2025 Lowestoft: February 16th and 17th 2026 |
| Level 3 Certificate in Understanding the Principles of Dementia Care | This qualification aims to help your knowledge of dementia. The qualification will help you understand the types of dementia and the importance of an early diagnosis, person-centered approaches in dementia care, the roles of communication, interaction and inclusion in dementia care and support and the use of medication to support individuals with dementia. | Great Yarmouth: September 22nd and 23rd 2025 September 29th and 30th 2025 October 1st and 2nd 2025 |
| Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health | This qualification aims to increase your knowledge of mental health and mental wellbeing. The qualification will help you to understand mental health legislation, services and public attitudes and how these have evolved, how to support mental wellbeing through various stages of life and mental ill health, treatment options available and the potential. | Great Yarmouth: October 15th and 16th 2025 November 5th and 6th 2025 November 19th and 20th 2025 April 15th and 16th 2026 April 27th and 28th 2026 May 20th and 21st 2026 |
| Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of End-of-Life Care | This qualification is designed for anyone who is seeking to increase their knowledge of end-of-life care in a vocational setting. It is aimed at those working in the healthcare sector whose job description includes caring for those who have a life-limiting illness. This qualification is also appropriate for those who have already achieved other sector-specific qualifications in the healthcare sector who need to apply their understanding in a palliative care context. | Great Yarmouth: January 19th and 20th 2026 February 9th and 10th 2026 February 23rd and 24th 2026 |
From the 1st August the Department of Education updated the funding rules for those who are eligible for funded courses. One change is that learners on a Care Worker Visa, will be indefinitely unfunded for any short courses or Diplomas. Below is a summary of what funding can be accessed for staff.
For those not on a care or visitors, aged 19+ on 31/08/25 and who are ordinarily resident in the UK and residing legally.
Level 2 Short Courses and Diplomas:
19–23-year-olds without a full level 2 qualification (in any subject) are fully funded.
19–23-year-olds with an existing full level 2 qualification will be funded in their annual earnings fall below £25,750 a year, or are currently unemployed. If they earn over this threshold, they will be able to attract 50% funding of course fees (please see table 1)
Level 3 Diplomas
For those who are a British citizen, the following flowcharts apply. Earnings thresholds remain at £25,750. For those earning over the threshold an Advanced Learning Loan may be available subject to individual government eligibility rules.
Learning and Development Support Scheme
For any learner (legally employed with a UK NI number) working in Adult Social Care roles ( non-regulated ) , the employer can also access the Learning and Development Support scheme where they can claim towards costs of training.
Learning and Development Support Scheme for the adult social care workforce: a guide for employers – GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-learning-and-development-support-scheme/learning-and-development-support-scheme-for-the-adult-social-care-workforce-a-guide-for-employers
Key Points
- Eligible training courses or qualifications must be paid for before reimbursement can be claimed, and proof of payment must be provided to support each claim.
- Employers can claim reimbursement for the evidenced payment, up to the maximum reimbursement amount per item. Maximum reimbursement amounts are published in the list of eligible training courses and qualifications. These amounts have been updated for courses and qualifications paid for in the financial year 2025 to 2026. Ensure that you are referring to the correct maximum reimbursement amount, depending on the financial year in which the training course or qualification was paid for.
- Qualifications must be awarded by an eligible awarding organisation, as set out in the list of eligible training courses and qualifications. Employers may wish to refer to Skills for Care’s list of quality assured training providers when deciding which eligible training they wish to book (see the section ‘Quality-assured care learning’ below for more information).
- Any pre-conditions of enrolment for courses and qualifications are set out by awarding organisations and training providers.
- LDSS funding can only be used for the cost of the course or qualification. The funding cannot be used to cover backfill pay, travel costs or any other associated costs.
- The Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care ( NVQ ) is not funded under this pathway, but the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate is. This qualification is a blend of knowledge and skills and still requires observations of practice. The mandatory units are summarised below:
