Eastern ALW Award Winners 2007
Individual Award Winners
Caren Long, aged 43, from Clacton
Caren Long has managed to juggle family commitments with going to
college to gain qualifications and improve her job prospects. Caren,
a mother of seven, had under-achieved at school and hadn’t worked
for years while she raised her children. Lacking confidence, she
knew she could not get a decent job without gaining qualifications.
“I had been away from the workplace for quite some time,” she says.
“I needed to learn how to learn again and achieve something for my
own confidence that would lead to employment.”
Help was at hand when she contacted her local further education
college Colchester Institute. “I telephoned the tutor who was very
encouraging and supportive, and gave me the boost to take the
course,” she says.
Studying on top of fulfilling childcare duties had seemed an
insurmountable challenge. But she found the courses were flexible
enough to accommodate her family life, and she was given a great
deal of support to study at home.
Caren completed a Level 2 qualification in Customer Relations. She
went on to achieve both Levels 1 and 2 in Adult Numeracy and was due
to complete a Clait computer course in March 2007.
She is very proud of her achievements. “It has enabled me to have
the confidence to approach our local school and do voluntary work. I
am now able to help my children with their homework.
“I made new friends, and most of all it has given me the confidence
and drive to continue learning and attend job interviews.”
Eve Huggins, aged 43, from Diss
Becoming an adult learner has seen catering manager Eve go from
strength to strength in her career. And through her example she has
encouraged over 100 other work colleagues to access education and
training. Eve decided to return to learning to improve her skills
for her job, improve her confidence and to be able to help her
children with their homework.
“It was great to be able to choose what I wanted to learn and
therefore increase my career prospects,” she says. “I’m very proud
of what I have achieved.”
Before starting her courses she’d had little direction in her
working life. But when her company Norfolk County Services Ltd
seconded her into a new part-time role she got the chance to gain
more skills and qualifications. Eve became a project worker with the
company’s Learning Lift-off programme which gives staff a variety of
learning opportunities.
She completed National Skills Tests in Literacy and Numeracy at
Levels 1 and 2, Making It Happen, a qualification to support
learners with difficulties in literacy, Intermediate Health &
Nutrition, City & Guilds 7320 Certificate in Delivering Learning
Level 3, Train the Trainer and Intermediate Food Hygiene Level 3.
Eve has started a Shop Steward’s course which will bring her more
responsibilities. She also developed an interest in training others
– she now delivers hygiene training to new staff in the firm’s
catering division.
She is confident enough to apply for promotion, and wants to work
towards taking a degree. “I feel you can never have too much
knowledge,” she says.
Ian Vickery, aged 20, from Cambridge
Ian grew up in care and has learning difficulties. Education was
a negative experience for him – he left special needs school with no
qualifications and little confidence. He found working in groups
very challenging and spent much of his time alone. He joined Young
People’s Next Steps – a service in Cambridgeshire which helps people
live independently.
Ian took a range of life skills courses, teaching him communication
and social skills, how to travel independently on public transport,
and work and volunteering skills. He is also learning how to cook
and is developing computer skills.
He gained a Millennium Volunteer Award for 120 hours of volunteering
for the community, including making an anti-bullying DVD and
organising an arts festival. He is currently focusing on improving
his lifestyle within his community.
Since joining Young People’s Next Steps, staff say the changes in
Ian have been remarkable. When he started, he would walk with his
head down and rarely talk. Now he starts conversations and says no
to things with which he is not comfortable.
Ian also lives a much more independent life. He lives in supported
housing, travels independently by bus and has made his first train
journey alone – he is even confident enough to use London
Underground.
Dee, his past foster carer, says: “What I’ve seen in Ian is his own
sense of self-worth. His self-esteem went sky-high. It’s now given
him the confidence to go into the workplace.”
Ian Wilson, aged 36, from Southend
Ian Wilson had to leave school at 15 after suffering a traumatic
family life as a teenager. Afterwards his life spiralled downwards -
he endured drug abuse and homelessness, and turned to crime. Now
after returning to learning in his 30s he has a real prospect of
getting a degree at university.
A turning point for Ian came through Essex Probation Service and
Southend Adult Community College. In February 2006 as a result of a
magistrates’ order, Ian studied literacy and numeracy classes. This
motivated him, spurring him on to overcome his problems.
Since then he has achieved certificates in Adult Literacy and
Numeracy. He is currently studying GCSEs in History, Maths, English
and Law, as well as taking a Computing First Steps course. He is
expected to get straight As in his exams, before progressing on to A
Levels and then university.
Ian has managed to achieve the respect of his tutors and peers. “Ian
was shy,” says Sarah-Jane Holmes, the college’s head of Skills for
Life who nominated him. “He now takes the lead in many group class
activities encouraging other adult learners. He is now experiencing
new cultural, educational and social activities, visiting museums
and libraries, and sharing this with friends and fellow learners.”
Ian has also contributed to Essex Probation Services’ ‘Think First’
programme, helping other offenders to manage change in their lives
and benefit from learning. “I would like to take the desire to learn
as far as possible,” he says. “The thought of going to a University
is a light that I can now see at the end of the tunnel.”
Rubel Choudhury, aged 29, from Luton
Rubel Choudhury is profoundly deaf, an impairment which has been
a major barrier in his education. But he has made remarkable
progress during his time at Barnfield College, showing an aptitude
for art and design. Recently he became student representative on the
college’s board of governors.
“I was 21, at home doing nothing and I knew my basic skills were
weak,” he says. “My brother encouraged me to enrol at Barnfield
College.”
He has since taken a range of courses and qualifications, including
British Sign Language, Media Studies, Film, Theatre Studies,
Opportunity for Work, the Art of Visual and Written Literacy and
General Art and Design with Media Level 1. He gained a work
experience placement at the college as a media technician. It
encouraged him to enrol on an art course, which proved to be a
lifeline.
“Art, like signing, is a visual language and I can understand it
more clearly because visual demonstrations are easier to
comprehend,” he says.
To him adult learning has meant taking on board new techniques and
new words. It has meant “becoming a family group with the other
students – no bullying, a relaxed attitude and a good experience.”
His plans for the future are to pass more qualifications. “Who knows
what the future will bring – a job?”, he says.
Tutor Calvin Parsons, who nominated him for an Adult Learners’ Week
award, says: “Rubel is an inspiration to his other course members
and staff.”
NOCN Regional Award Winner
Andrea Taylor, aged 34, from New Barnet, Hertfordshire.
Andrea Taylor has beaten drug addiction and is on course to
become a qualified counsellor.
After spending years living on the street and using drugs, she now
aims to put her experience to good use by working as a counsellor
and helping drug addicts and alcoholics to rehabilitate.
“Learning has improved my social skills and helped in building
confidence and a belief in myself which has affected every area of
my life,” she says.
“Along with gaining qualifications and experience in the field I
wish to work in, I have gained friendships. Personal growth has been
the main aspect of my learning.”
Andrea’s schooling had been traumatic as a child, compounded by
having dyslexia. Only recently was the condition diagnosed.
“Now I know what my difficulties are I can work with them,” she
says. “I found it hard to engage with other students to begin with –
low self esteem proved paralysing when meeting new people.”
She began by attending a computer class in a centre for vulnerable
women. She then moved on to the City Lit adult education college
where she completed a Level 2 City & Guilds qualification in the
Development Needs of Homeless and Vulnerable People.
The college placed her on a work placement volunteering at the
Blenheim Project, where she completed an OCN Level 2 accreditation
for ‘A Pathway to Drugs Work.’ She also attended Barnet College,
completing an OCN Level 3 in counselling skills.
Andrea is currently studying an MSc in Addictive Psychology and
Counselling at London South Bank University.
National Group Award Winners
The Runnymede Computer Group from Norwich
Ranging in age from 60 to 80-plus, members of the Runnymede
computer club are mostly residents of three sheltered housing
schemes in Norwich. They got together when one of their neighbours
donated her computer to the sheltered housing complex for communal
use and they wanted some training: that’s when these older learners
took up the challenge of Age Concern Norfolk’s Into IT Course.
Two years on, members of the group have continued to support each
other, contribute to the costs involved in being on-line, worked
actively towards finding tuition to match the diversity amongst them
and locate extra tuition. The group has grown and members now pass
their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm on to new tenants and members
of the local community.
As nominator Richard Symon explains, ‘Previous problems [like]
isolation and indifference have disappeared within the housing
scheme. Friendship with people from the surrounding schemes and
neighbourhood have been formed and, as a direct result of the
training, laptops were on several students’ Christmas lists. The
training has given people the confidence to search the internet, set
up their own webcam – giving them the ability to chat to friends and
family worldwide, discover family histories [and] save money by
comparing utilities, goods and services… The training has brought
people closer, with a sense of achievement, community and renewed
confidence. Additionally, it has encouraged people to take up
further ‘formal’ education, proving that education can be for
everyone regardless of perceived barriers’.
European Social Fund Individual Award Winner
Anwar Usmani, aged 57, from Luton
Seven years ago Anwar retired as a Professor of Chemistry in
Pakistan. But a series of family tragedies lead to severe depression
and Anwar lost his confidence in life. Anwar says he decided to
undertake an NVQ3 in Mentoring in the Workplace, as a way to
“rekindle my enthusiasm to learn and help others around me”. He came
to England after the death of two of his children and his wife, and
joined the Luton Training and Mentoring (LTM) programme.
Initially interested in their Refugee Support workshops to help
people integrate into British society he found that it helped his
confidence. Despite his depression and caring responsibilities to
his young son who has an acute disability, Anwar decided to take up
a mentoring qualification at LTM.
Anjana Parmer, who works at LTM, says: “He was able to use his lost
skills by supporting and helping the other learners by becoming
their mentor.” After successfully completing his NVQ3 in mentoring,
Anwar has become a volunteer mentor; helping others facing personal
difficulties to become Community Learning Champions and role models
like himself.
Anwar says: “Learning has given me a second chance to give so many
others something back.”
National Learning Works Award Winner
Kaiwan Mahmud, aged 25, from Peterborough
Before he arrived in the UK, Iraqi refugee Kaiwan had only had a
sporadic education because of war. He had a low level of literacy
even in his own language. He spoke no English but now he converses
fluently. And from being unable to read and write he now has good
basic literacy – enough to allow him to pass his Heavy Goods Vehicle
class 2 driving test and work as a lorry driver.
In Iraq Kaiwan’s parents had suffered persecution because of their
Kurdish and Arabic origin, and he was also at risk. “When I first
arrived in this country I felt lonely and lost because nobody could
understand me,” he says. “I had difficulties with everything,
especially spelling.”
He is now determined to seek a new career as a businessman and is
applying to study Business Administration. “I studied really hard
for a year and then I was optimistic. I know if I work hard for now,
then I will achieve my dreams in the future.”
Kaiwan has been studying at Peterborough Regional College since 2002
and has achieved a number of qualifications, including English for
Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) speaking and listening Entry
level 3, ESOL Entry 3 and ESOL writing Entry 2. Kaiwan is currently
completing a Clait computer qualification and is enrolled on a
two-year Maths GCSE course.
He says: “It is very important to study and have good qualifications
to help your life and get on with other people.”
European Social Fund Opening Doors to Adult Learners’ Award Winner
Essex Probation Area
The Out To Work project was set up to increase the employability
of offenders in Essex. Within two years, the project has assisted
over 1300 offenders to increase their skills and qualifications,
becoming a shining example of good practice to other Probation
Areas.
The project was set up in 2005 and is for any offender who has been
out of work for six months or more and educated below Level 2.
Individual Learning Plans are drawn up for each offender with the
Project Manager and their ETE (Education, Training and Employment)
Officer. Many of the offenders come from difficult or deprived
backgrounds, facing additional barriers to learning such as poor
previous learning experiences, low self esteem or problems with
getting employment due to stigmatism.
Offenders have benefited by gaining employment, studying further
courses or achieving a qualification for the first time in their
life. The project has also had a positive impact on their home life,
their children and society as a whole – reducing participants’ risk
of re-offending.
Taster sessions, in subjects identified as having gaps in the
employment market, are offered as a way of introduction. Pre-course
meetings are also set up to discuss possible fears and problems to
ensure low drop out rates. These are both seen as important first
steps to learning.
If an offender is not ready to embark on a course they are offered a
Personal Development Programme: designed to develop self-esteem and
confidence. One offender said: “I have not attended anything like
this course – I think it is unique. I have more confidence in myself
and to handle criticism.”
Helen Hever, from Essex Probation Service, says, “The Out to Work
Project has had an enormous impact, succeeding in all its
targets…Most of all the offender is motivated and willing to engage
in something that can and has been a life changing experience.”
Opening Doors to Adult Learners’ Award Winner
Wishes from Capacity and Thurrock Council in Essex
Wishes is a parental engagement programme led by public interest
body, Capacity, and the Children, Education and Families Department
of Thurrock Council in partnership with – amongst others – two FE
colleges, Thurrock CVS, Jobcentre Plus, the library service and
other agencies, all of whom work together to engage learners. The
113 current Wishes learners – mainly mothers, with a small number of
dads – range in age from 19 to 40 plus; the majority are unemployed;
many are lone parents. On joining the project, a few had Level 1
qualifications but the majority had no qualifications at all.
“Most of the group live [in] among the most deprived wards within
the borough”, nominator Margaret Lochrie explains. “Poor health [is]
widespread and, with 40% of adults lacking qualifications, local
people are in danger of being locked into poverty.”
Individual learning plans are built around learners’ wishes and
needs. Children’s Centre and other staff have been trained to
interview learners, undertake initial assessments and training needs
analyses. Most learners want to improve literacy and numeracy or to
be able to use IT. For a number of learners, ESOL is the main
priority. Some already know the job they want to have and are
matched to courses. Others don’t, and a range of taster workshops
help these adults to decide what they might want to do. “Whatever
learners’ wishes are, we try to find a way of meeting them, whether
that’s to become a counsellor, or car mechanic, or nail artist”,
Margaret says.
Progression and flexibility are at the heart of Wishes, based on the
belief that progression can take different forms. Childcare settings
offer learning placements for those on courses; CVS builds
volunteering opportunities around individual needs; and other local
schemes offer work experience. Wishes learners have also been
involved in fun and learning days, impromptu salsa sessions, art
workshops and other events which have had a real impact on the whole
community.
Regional Senior Learner Award Winner
Neil Kirsch, aged 58, from Barnet
Five years after his father’s death, taxi driver Neil Kirsch, is
about to complete a BA in English. His father had always stressed
the importance of reading and learning, but Neil hadn’t picked up a
book since he left school. Neil says, “I had always rebelled against
[my father]. As a result l left school at 16 with only a couple of
GCEs…his death made me think about my life – as well as…the great
pleasure he had taken from reading and studying and as a way of
paying tribute to my father I decided to pick up one of his books
and read it. I loved it.”
Neil embarked upon his learning tribute with a English Language and
Literature GCSE Course at Barnet College. This was followed by
A’Level English Language/Literature. He supplemented his new found
enthusiasm with WEA Literature courses in Barnet. Now in the third
year of a part-time English degree at Birkbeck College, Neil is
considering the future while appreciating what he’s achieved.
Neil said, “It was only a few years ago that I read one of my
father’s books which was the first step on the adult learning
ladder. Who knows what the future will hold. My further education
means that I can now help make others achieve something that their
rebellious youth may have denied them.”