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ALW 2006 East Midlands Region Award Winners

Stuart Bradley, age 45, Nottingham
Nominated by: Tim Wood, SPAN, Nottingham. Tel: 0115 966 1088 Email: tim.wood@nottshc.nhs.uk

Stuart changes his life through learning

Stuart was told by his Psychiatrist that he would never work again; he would have to attend day centres for the rest of his life. He has completely changed his life following his attendance at SPAN.

Qualifications in Computer Literacy and Information Technology (CLAIT), New CLAIT, CLAIT Plus, PC Maintenance and a City & Guilds Adult Education Teaching Certificate have helped him to enhance opportunities and he is currently working towards the Certificate of Adult and Continuing Education Course. His newfound qualifications have led him to employment at two local colleges, working in the units that he learned in.

Because of his background, Stuart is able to relate well to the students and the problems they encounter. He says that adult learning is, “A chance to reclaim your life and be a useful member of society.”

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Sharon Dain, age 46, Chesterfield
Nominated by: Helen Hibbert, Chesterfield College
Press Contact: Pat McGowan, Chesterfield College Tel: 01246 500637 Email: mcgowanp@chesterfield.ac.uk

Sharon works towards achieving her ambition

School really turned Sharon off learning. Her mum was told Sharon was ‘thick’ which took away all her confidence in learning.

Two years ago she decided to return to learn for her sake and her children. The most difficult thing she overcame was walking through the door to the class. She says, “I stood outside for ages frightened to go in worried what everyone would think of me. I made that step (physically and mentally) and have never regretted it.”

Sharon initially attended a Making the Most of your Health course at a local family centre incorporating basic literacy and numeracy skills. She then attended a Managing Your Money course achieving a City & Guilds Entry level 3 Adult Numeracy qualification. She is currently attending a Basic Skills IT course and should achieve a City & Guilds Entry level 3 Adult Literacy qualification.

Due to her new confidence and improved skill she is now looking at how she can achieve her ambition of being a classroom assistant.

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Krishna Devaliya, age 26, Leicester
Nominated by: Louise Armstrong, Leicester Adult Education College. Tel: 0116 229 2251 Email: la1@laec.ac.uk

No stopping me now

Despite having a Master’s degree from India, Krishna knew she would have to retrain to secure employment in this country.

With an inability to communicate effectively in English, Krishna decided to boost her English speaking skills and has since achieved ESOL Entry level 2 qualifications. She has completed a part-time Certificate in Childcare for Bilingual Learners and is now doing an NVQ in Early Years and Education. She has also done in-house training at her local NSPCC, where she works as a volunteer with a mother and toddler group.

Krishna’s confidence has now emerged and she recently addressed a large audience at the Leicester Adult Education College celebration event and also appeared on a national Asian television channel talking about her experiences and encouraging other women to think about opportunities to learn.

Krishna’s dream career is to work with children and through adult learning she is on her way there.

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Maria Piroso, age 23, Newbold, Chesterfield
Nominated by: Helen Hibbert, Chesterfield College
Press Contact: Pat McGowan, Chesterfield College Tel: 01246 500637 Email: mcgowanp@chesterfield.ac.uk

Maria brushes up her skills to gain employment

Maria came from Italy to England, with her parents. She had left school at 14 and decided to return to learning in England to brush up her skills and gain qualifications to help her work in an office.

Despite her visual impairment, she has gained Entry level 1 in ESOL and Entry level 3 in adult numeracy. In her second year at college she has continued onto an ESOL catering course where she is progressing well. She has also been accepted at the Royal Institute for the Blind at Loughborough to take a business administration course.

Maria’s new skills have given her the confidence to use the Braille section in the library, helping the family to cook meals and use the telephone. “Adult learning is about learning anything for as long as I want to,” says Maria.

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David Woods, age 45, Corby, Northamptonshire
Nominated by: Michaela Reilly, Tresham Institute, Northamptonshire Tel: 0791 932 8347 Email: mreilly@tresham.ac.uk

“Adult learning has helped me to change my life.”

David had been a drug user for 30 years and was in and out of prison. Shortly after leaving prison he was put on a drug treatment programme and part of this was to attend Skills for Life provision. He has since completed entry level 3, level 1 and 2 in literacy and Entry level 2 and 3 and level 1 and 2 in numeracy.

He is also doing some voluntary work for the Probation Service where he talks to offenders using his own experiences about the importance of education. He has organised fundraising events for charity and also started a narcotics anonymous group in his area, which runs once a week.

David says of his new life, “I am maintaining a drug free, crime free life and I am contributing in a positive way to the community that I am part of.”

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Beverley Shaw, age 41, Ilkeston, Derbyshire
Nominated by: Margaret John, Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service
Tel: 0115 932 8792 Email: mjohnilk@yahoo.com 

Infectious Enthusiasm

Bev returned to learning over six years ago, aiming to become a classroom assistant, and has battled through her studies despite becoming a single mum, taking on the care of her elderly parents and, in February 2005, being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer.

Nevertheless she has continued to be successful in her studies. She has gained OCN qualifications in Childcare, Adult Literacy and Numeracy Level 1, First Aid, Art, Word Processing and a host of others. Her NVQ3 in Childcare was sponsored by the local Surestart project. In July 2005 she was nominated for a Student Award which acknowledged her enduring enthusiasm for learning and her cheerfulness, in the face of challenging personal and physical disabilities.

“Bev’s infectious enthusiasm is an inspiration to all,” said nominator Margaret.

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George Wilcockson, age 59, Nottinghamshire
Nominated by: Caroline Thomas, Nottingham Trent University Tel: 01636 817000 Email: caroline.thomas@ntu.ac.uk

Growing the learning seed

“George has cheerfully overcome difficulties and loss of senses that others take for granted, and has put his success towards community projects to benefit others,” says nominator Caroline.

George achieved his Royal Horticultural Society certificate despite being dual sensory impaired. The qualification has helped secure part-time employment working on a project that helps young adults with learning difficulties to integrate and learn new skills.

George says, “Despite my problems I try to have a positive outlook on life and encourage others to do the same. We can all achieve our goals if we make the effort.”

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