At Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC), your wellbeing and personal development are of utmost importance. The College’s commitment to your welfare has been recognised with an outstanding rating by Ofsted. The College prides itself on providing an exceptional level of care and attention to students at all levels, offering extensive wellbeing support in education.

Comprehensive Careers, Education, Information, and Guidance (CEIAG)

From the moment you join the College, we start preparing you for your future. Whether you have a clear career path or are uncertain about your goals, the College’s online Career Coach package is designed to help you map out your educational and career options. It can guide you through various educational and training opportunities to help you reach your career aspirations.

BTC aims to offer an accessible careers service that operates within the ‘Gatsby Careers Benchmarks’. This provides us with a clear framework to operate from, and the Gatsby Benchmarks have been accepted as best practice by the Government.

We seek to equip all of our students with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to operate confidently, effectively, and independently in both life and work. This is underpinned by the My BTC Advantage, developed in tandem with students and teachers to bring out the best in everyone who is a part of the BTC community.

A range of activities are embedded across all study programmes, ranging from induction and tutorial sessions to events and workshops. Students are able to learn about and access this by attending their tutorial sessions, and are notified of events and activities taking place across the academic year.

Health and Wellbeing Support

College life can be overwhelming, and personal issues can affect your mental and emotional wellbeing. BTC has a dedicated Wellbeing Team, including Wellbeing Officers who are trained professionals passionate about promoting mental and emotional wellness. We recognise the importance of wellbeing support in education. Our Wellbeing Officers offer a safe and non-judgmental space for students to seek support and guidance. The team can connect you with various College resources and external services to support your mental health and general wellbeing.

The Wellbeing team can refer students to our flexible, confidential and accessible counselling service, equipped to help students through challenging situations. Whether anxious feelings, relationship problems, stress, self-esteem, anger management or depression – we are here to help.

Health issues are also a priority for us, and we are able to offer support with smoking, diet, drugs, alcohol and sexual health. We pride ourselves on an environment designed to make you safer, happier and healthier, and will do our utmost to support you.

Multi-Faith Support

Diversity and inclusivity are highly valued at the College. We have dedicated College Chaplains on each campus to provide support and create a welcoming, inclusive community for students of all faiths and backgrounds.

These multi-faith spaces offer a peaceful environment for spiritual reflection, connecting with others, and exploring your spirituality. The College recognises that spirituality is essential for overall well-being and aims to provide the support and resources you need to thrive.

Our Chaplains lead important calendar events throughout the academic year, and work alongside students to create a welcoming and inclusive community across campuses.

Learner Support

BTC offers extensive support for learners with various needs. Our approachable and experienced team includes specialist tutors, support coordinators, and learning support assistants who can aid with different aspects of your learning journey. Whether you need tutorial support, help with wellbeing, or assistance with specific learning difficulties, the College has a range of services to help you succeed.

Every student is assigned a personal tutor, who you’re able to discuss your personal and academic progress with. They strive to assist you however they are able, and can then signpost you to other services if required.

Additional Learning Support is also a focal point across College provisions, and requirement for this may arise from a specific learning difficulty and/or disability. There may also be a need for this for any mental health difficulties which may cause a barrier for learning. Our dedicated ALS team build strong relationships with our students, supporting them in improving their functional, social, emotional, and behavioural skills. Students benefit from access to specialist resources which include (but are not limited to): a dedicated team to support learners on the Autistic Spectrum, Specialist Specific Learning Difficulties Support (i.e. Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia), Assistive Technologies, work placement support, supported internships and English and maths support in small groups or one-to-one.

In addition to these key points, we also provide support for exam access arrangements, such as extra time and assistive technology, ensuring that students have the necessary accommodations to perform their best during exams. This also includes special consideration for unexpected circumstances that may affect your exam performance.

“My BTC Advantage” – A Path to Personal Growth and Success

Our commitment to your holistic development extends even further with the “My BTC Advantage” programme. This is deeply engrained in every course offered and is designed to help you flourish in various aspects of your life.

Higher Aspirations: We encourage you to aim high. It fosters an environment where you can set and achieve ambitious goals, empowering you to reach for your dreams.

More Confident: One of the key elements of personal growth is confidence. The programme aims to boost your self-assurance, ensuring that you face challenges with a positive mindset and self-belief.

Effective Learner: Becoming an independent and effective learner is crucial for your academic journey. We provide strategies to help you become a self-directed and resourceful student.

Community Minded: We encourage community-mindedness, emphasising the importance of giving back and engaging with the local and global community. It fosters a sense of responsibility and compassion for the wellbeing of others.

Better Communicator: Communication is a valuable life skill. We strive to equip you with the tools to become a better communicator, ensuring that you can express yourself clearly and connect with others effectively.

Safer, Happier, Healthier: A healthy and happy student is a successful student. This programme provides resources and guidance to help you maintain your well-being, socially, mentally and physically.

Knowledge & Skills: We recognise the significance of continuous learning. It encourages you to explore new horizons and expand your knowledge, fostering a lifelong love for learning. We do everything we can to amplify this and provide multiple opportunities for students to explore their own learning and development, and to continuously develop.

My BTC Advantage ensures that you’re not just gaining academic knowledge but also growing personally and preparing for a successful future. It’s a comprehensive approach to education that goes beyond the classroom, empowering you to excel in all aspects of life. It has been crafted by both staff and student voices, and provides a framework for bringing out your best.

At BTC, you can be confident that you’ll receive the guidance and support needed to excel academically and personally, ensuring a positive and nurturing educational experience.

Please visit our website to explore each of these points in further detail via the extensive materials available online, or get in touch with our Information & Advice Team at info@btc.ac.uk or by calling 01278 455464.