You could do a foundation degree or degree in a subject like:

• education
• sociology
• youth work
• community development

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You could do a college course which might be useful when applying for a trainee job. Courses include:

• Level 2 Diploma in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community
• Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Social and Community Work

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You could start by doing a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship as a:

• Youth Support Worker
• Cultural Learning and Participation Officer
• Learning and Development Practitioner

These apprenticeships can take around 1 year and 6 months to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

You could become a community education co-ordinator though volunteering. 

Volunteering is a good way to get practical experience, meet new people and develop your network of contacts. This might help you when looking for a job in community education or development.

You can find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do It.

You could apply directly for community education co-ordinator jobs.

You'll need paid or voluntary experience of working in the community such as in:

• adult education
• teaching
• youth work

You'll also find it helpful to have experience of working with disadvantaged or vulnerable groups.

More information

You can find your local council to get more details about working in your community or learn about working in community education through Locality.

You'll need:

• excellent verbal communication skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• a desire to help people
• customer service skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

As a community education co-ordinator, you could:

• work with local groups to understand their needs and interests
• plan and develop learning projects with course providers
• recruit and support community volunteers
• organise suitable venues for workshops and classes
• promote activities and training courses
• keep records, control budgets and bid for funding

You could work in an office, in the community, at a school or at a college.