London ALW Award Winners 2007
Individual Award Winners
Joao Mateus, aged 22, from Brent
Six years Joao Mateus arrived in this country as a 16-year-old
orphan from war-torn Angola with nothing to his name. Now he is due
to graduate from university this summer with an honours degree,
before going on to take a masters degree.
“My learning has helped me to overcome many barriers in my life,” he
says. “I hope to be running my own company in five years time,
publish a book and enjoy life in Britain.” After arriving as an
unaccompanied asylum seeker with no English, he very quickly
mastered the language.
He attended Uxbridge College where he took English for Speakers of
Other Languages (ESOL) Entry Level 2, AAT Levels 1 and 2 Accounting
qualifications and on OCN Access to Business Studies. Joao is
currently studying for a degree in business and finance at
Westminster University, where he is expected to get a 2:1.
He gives his accounting services free to the charity Age Concern,
has done six months management work experience with Shell, and works
part time as a trainee services manager at Tesco. Joao also acts as
a student ambassador, going into secondary schools in Brent to
encourage students to succeed and go further with their education.
He acts as a ‘buddy’ for new students at Westminster University, and
has set up an Investment Club, training students about buying and
selling shares, and ethical investing.
Fariha Bhatti, aged 33, from Hounslow
Learning has become a lifeline for Fariha. Since she came to the
UK two years ago she has taken a range of courses and
qualifications, dramatically improving her life. After completing a
degree in Civil Engineering in her native Pakistan ten years ago
Fariha, who suffers from arthritis, had been forced to stop studying
by increasing disability.
“I was unable to access the universities and public transport in
Pakistan, although I wanted to study further,” she says. “But after
coming to the UK, I found here that all of the educational buildings
have disabled access. Also it became possible for me to use public
transport here, so I decided to fulfil my dream.”
In the past year she has taken courses including Interpreting,
Practical Film Production, Radio, Producing a Volunteer Placement
Portfolio, Living London, Book-keeping and Accounting at Level 2 and
a Human Rights Advocacy course.
Fariha has also volunteered for a variety of organisations including
Asylum Aid, REAP, RAGU, Islington Enterprise Agency and British
Institute for Human Rights. As a volunteer with London Refugee
Economic Action she advises the Mayor of London’s office on issues
for refugees and asylum seekers.
“The first thing I achieved was confidence and self-respect,” she
says. “After a long time I realised that being a disabled person
doesn’t mean that I am a useless person.”
Deborah Stewart, aged 43, from Blackfriars
Deborah Stewart has overcome her fear of maths to help her
daughter with her homework. And improving her maths by taking a GCSE
also led to a change of career – unemployed Deborah now hopes to
become a secondary school teacher.
“Life is a learning curve,” she says. “And just because you are an
adult you should not lose your desire to learn and develop new
skills.”
Deborah is truly multi-skilled. She taught herself computer studies
while on a plumbing course and was so successful that she became an
IT tutor. Taking maths GCSE gave her the confidence to become a
volunteer co-ordinator on a homework project for GCSE students. She
is also involved in a mentoring project at City of London Boys’
School. After achieving her maths qualification, Deborah completed
an Access to Teaching Studies course at Southwark College.
“The subjects I covered on the access course have proved
invaluable,” she says. “Southwark College provided me with an
excellent, comprehensive course, consisting of subjects that are
relevant to everyday life. It also allowed to meet new people,
several of whom I’m in contact with and one who will remain a friend
for life.”
But the icing on the cake is her new-found confidence with maths. “I
am able to help my daughter who has just started secondary school
with her maths homework – something which even surprises her.”
Daniel Gozzer, aged 36, from Covent Garden
Returning to learning has given Daniel Gozzer a new career in
complementary medicine after he suffered from depression and was
diagnosed as chronically ill. He now runs a therapy centre at Oasis
North London, a charity which helps HIV positive people return to
work. He is also training to be a teacher of adults and is starting
to write therapy courses for HIV diagnosed adult learners.
Daniel had suffered a nervous breakdown after working for ten years
in management. He decided to change his career and became interested
in alternative and complementary health care. After caring for a
terminally ill family friend, he found he had a gift for using touch
and massage as therapy.
“I had some very challenging learning experiences in the past and
this had been a barrier to starting learning again as an adult,” he
says. “The family friend I looked after gave me the encouragement to
learn again.”
Daniel attended an ITEC Holistic Massage Diploma Course at the City
Lit adult education college and gained a qualification to practice
as a professional massage therapist. He went on to complete a
diploma in Indian Head Massage, an Advanced Massage Technique
course, and a course on Lomi Lomi Hawaiian massage.
“Adult learning has meant I do not have to give up work, even though
my health has been a problem,” he says. “The City & Guilds teacher
training course is opening another door for me. It’s keeping me
mentally active and providing another opportunity for the future.”
Kathy Boswell, aged 47, from East Acton
Kathy Boswell has turned her life around after surviving more
than 20 years of domestic violence. Despite leaving school with no
qualifications, in her 40s she has become a qualified counsellor and
now helps others living with domestic abuse.
“With the skills and qualifications I have gained I am able to give
something back and be part of something,” she says. Kathy’s formal
education ended at 15 when she left school to work in a factory.
“After marrying young for over 20 years life was a matter of
survival,” she says. “I worked as a cleaner, looked after my kids,
coped with my violent first partner and then my even more violent
alcoholic second partner”.
After the birth of her third child, Kathy had a breakdown. She fled
to a women’s refuge but the counselling offered by a domestic
violence project gave her the confidence to return to education.
She began training as a counsellor, gaining a professional Diploma
in Counselling last year – despite being a single parent and having
to overcome hearing loss. Kathy also attended many personal and
professional development workshops and worked as a volunteer
counsellor while working towards her professional accreditation.
She now wants to work in her new field, bringing changes in the
system to help people affected by domestic violence. And she is
passionate about adult learning. “You have a choice – it’s never too
late,” she says. “Years ago someone who couldn’t finish their
education wouldn’t have had another chance. Now if you really want
it enough, you can do anything at any age.”
NOCN Regional Award Winner
David Maguire, aged 35, from London
David Maguire was expelled from school at the age of 15 with no
qualifications, before spiralling into a life of drugs and alcohol
addiction.
Now in his mid-30s, he is on course to achieve a first-class honours
degree. He also acts as a learning ambassador and mentors young
people in schools.
It was only after release from prison that he was diagnosed as being
severely dyslexic and dyspraxic.
“This confirmed what I always believed – that I was intelligent and
with the right support and tools I could find a way to express it,”
he says. “With this came the confidence to start my journey into
higher education.”
Following an access to higher education course at Goldsmith’s
College, David moved on to the University of Westminster. He is now
in his final year of a BA in Criminology and Sociology and
considering taking an MA.
He also works part time for the AchieveAbility project, which aims
to break down barriers to higher education for students with
specific learning difficulties.
David is as at home speaking to 150 delegates at a national
conference, as he is working one-to-one with school pupils.
He is also a member of the dyslexia advisory panel for the British
Council, and works as a mentor to dyslexic prisoners for the British
Dyslexia Association.
He says: “My learning has given me a whole different perspective on
life. I now have the tools to constructively voice what I believe
in. I have confidence that I have never experienced before.”
European Social Fund Individual Award Winner
Joey Greaney, aged, from Kensington and Chelsea
Joey enrolled on a volunteering scheme at St Mungos (educational
charity for London’s homeless) with the aim of improving himself
following prison. The result was a successful six-month traineeship
placement and enrolment onto a BTEC National Certificate in
Horticulture.
St Mungos’ Putting Down Roots (PDR) project delivers regeneration
and education projects across London. Joey’s involvement in the
project helped him to fulfil his ambition to give something back to
the community. During his traineeship he worked on numerous projects
and began to mentor other students.
Despite attending rehab for substance and alcohol use during his
placement, he overcame literacy problems, difficulties with a past
criminal record, a long absence from education, financial
difficulties and work/study commitments to complete his traineeship
and gain a number of qualifications.
His tutor Phil Paolo says: “Learning has kept Joey away from crime
and also helped him to deal with substance and alcohol use issues,
through having a positive focus.”
His work has included the development of numerous educational
gardens for children in schools, and developing a training programme
at Westminster Drugs Project (where he was a past client).
Joey says: “Learning has made me proud of myself… Regardless of your
age or your education it is possible to get another chance to make
something of your life, build your self worth and become a
productive member of society”.
Following completion of his diploma, Joey plans to enrol on a
National Certificate in garden design and construction, gain
employment in the horticulture industry and finally set up his own
business.
European Social Fund Group Award Winner
The Inside Knowledge Group based at the City Lit in London
From homelessness and being users of support services, a group of
learners at City Lit turned themselves around to become the
providers of support. When the group came together, they had various
barriers to overcome. As well as all having experienced homelessness
or insecure temporary accommodation, they had experienced one or
more of the following: alcohol dependency, offending behaviour,
substance use, mental illness, or experience of abuse. In addition,
many had a low level of basic skills, had experienced long periods
of unemployment, and had very low levels of self esteem.
Yet one thing they all had in common was wanting to be able to give
something back to the community, by training to be support workers
in the homelessness sector. All members successfully passed the City
and Guilds Level 2 in Supporting the Learning and Development Needs
of Homeless and Vulnerable People.
Course tutor Jill Wallis describes how, “All students demonstrated
raised levels of self esteem and confidence. They generated a
general feeling of belief in themselves and their ability to move
forward.” As a result some students have gone on to paid employment.
Others have enrolled on to further courses or gained traineeships.
Group member Ian Clarke says: “We had marginalised ourselves by our
past behaviours and we had now been offered a bridge back to life
with a purpose. Our achievements are inspiring other service-users
to take up education and training opportunities. We are living proof
that people can move away from offending and destructive behaviour,
return to education and training and lead productive lives”
National Learning Works Award Winner
Eugene Carr, aged 48, from Walthamstow
Eugene is profoundly deaf, has a visual impairment and learning
difficulties. His first language is British Sign Language. Three
years after being made redundant and not being able to find
employment, Eugene embarked on an NVQ and gained full time
employment.
Eugene’s mother was planning to return to Jamaica. Worried that he
had no means of supporting himself he was referred to Newco
Employment and Training. He decided to enrol onto an NVQ1 in
Performing Manufacturing Operations, with the aim of working in a
factory environment.
Eugene had not studied for a qualification before. However, despite
his difficulties, within 18 months he successfully completed his NVQ
and gained full time employment at a local factory. Eugene is also a
keen member of his local deaf club and has become a voluntary mentor
to them, encouraging them and promoting the benefits of learning.
Many of the members are working towards NVQs.
His advisor Caroline Waters from Newco, says: “Thanks to Eugene we
now have quite a lot of profoundly deaf trainees!” He attends weekly
Skills for Life classes to improve his literacy and numeracy and has
completed Safe Moving and Handing, and Health and Safety courses.
Eugene says about his learning, “Initially I was nervous, I wasn’t
sure if I could do it, but it was easy to understand, and I could do
it at my own pace…I feel good, not as frightened as I used to be to
ask. I have the confidence to do that now”.
Claudia Jones, aged 24, from Brixton
The performing arts have given Claudia Jones a chance to overcome
her cruel legacy of childhood abuse and homelessness. Now her aim is
to open and teach in a community-based performing arts centre
offering music, dance and drama at affordable prices in a deprived
area of East London.
“Learning has given me opportunities to make new friends, to gain
qualifications and to gain confidence,” she says. “I’m very
passionate about getting involved in my local community. I’ve gained
lots of new skills, confidence and knowledge.”
Claudia had suffered consistent mental and physical abuse as a
child. She was constantly in trouble at school and was thrown out of
her home at 17, when she began sleeping rough. But she continued
studying acting, which was her passion. Sometimes she even went
without food to be able to pay for her course.
Claudia has taken four GCSEs gaining A to Cs, has a BTEC First
Diploma and BTEC National in Performing Arts, as well as
qualifications in Theatre Workshop at Levels 2 and 3. She also has
qualifications in First Aid, Health & Safety training, and has done
Actors’ Workshop and Music Foundation courses, a Community Sports
Leader award and a Prince’s Trust volunteers course.
Claudia started running workshops in schools in Hackney and has now
approached the local authority for funding for her own centre. She
has submitted a business plan and it is due to open next year.
“Adult learning is a lifeline,” she says. “A chance to make more of
your life.”
Opening Doors to Adult Learners’ Award Winner
Crisis Skylight, East London
“Over half of all homeless adults have low or no qualifications
and 86% are unemployed. 81% suffer from drug or alcohol addiction
and 50% suffer from mental ill health. A homeless adult is 13 times
more likely to have experienced violence than a member of the
general public”, says nominator Marion Phillip. Crisis Skylight, a
learning and activity centre in East London, aims to tackle these
realities by offering homeless adults opportunities to take part in
creative and practical learning alongside non-homeless people – a
pioneering approach.
Working with organisations as diverse as Newham College, Cardboard
Citizens and sandwich-chain Pret A Manger, Crisis Skylight offers
not only open-access engagement activities and education courses
providing accredited qualifications, but also employment and
employability programmes. 70 workshops per week – in topics such as
woodwork, interview techniques and Tai Chi – are run at the centre,
together with more structured self-development courses in literacy,
numeracy, IT and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Vocational
placements are also offered in social enterprises, such as the
Skylight Café in which Crisis provides training opportunities in
catering whilst supported volunteer placements at its head office
and at the learning centre itself are available too.
With a primary focus on ‘hidden homeless’ adults – those living in
temporary accommodation, especially hostel dwellers – the centre’s
Learning Zone alone engaged with 342 learners in 2006 who achieved
312 qualifications. Monthly discussion sessions are held with
learners and the Head of Skylight; learners elected by their peers
to the member forum meet every six weeks with the Head of Structured
Learning; and both two and six months after finishing their courses
members have ‘end of course appraisals’.
Skylight recognises ‘the importance of quality of space’, Marion
explains. “The service is delivered in a beautiful, inspiring
building with excellent facilities for learning…We provide learning
opportunities and facilities in the voluntary sector which meet the
standards expected of mainstream providers.” And learners agree. As
one said, the course “helped me with my confidence,… a sense of
achievement, purpose and structure in the daytime. It was a very
powerful kick up the bum for me. It makes you think about your
situation and it makes you pick yourself up…”
Senior Learner Award Winner
Tony Carter, aged 81, from Bromley
Tony hadn’t done any formal learning – apart from the very
occasional evening class - since he left school aged 15 and it was
65 years later that a course designed for older people really
appealed to him.
During those 65 years Tony had always read a great deal. His
curiosity about learning was aroused when he read about the
Ransackers Project - a specially designed residential course for
older people who have not previously benefited from further
education - and he enrolled on a course at Ruskin College, Oxford.
He was completely invigorated by this and this led to him studying
and completing an MA in Public History aged 81.
Tony says, “My study has been a great experience. I’m using new
skills in work which will I hope will interest others. I’d recommend
anyone to try a Ransackers Course.”
His plans for the future include working on a friend’s fathers’
memoirs and continuing his work as a pensioners rights activist –
Tony is secretary of the National Pensioners Centre.