Celebrate inspirational adult learners by nominating them for Adult Learners' Week awards. Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 16:04

Make sure the remarkable achievements of adult learners are given the recognition they deserve by nominating them for the Adult Learners’ Week Awards 2009. Every year the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) receives over 1,000 nominations from colleges, businesses, adult education providers, museums, libraries and elsewhere and aims to make its 18th Adult Learners’ Week the most successful yet.

The awards for Adult Learners’ Week (9th – 15th May 2009) illustrate the extraordinary achievements, of adult learners – young, old and in all their diversity. They are awarded for their inspirational learning journeys, for the way they have coped with challenges and for the way they have embraced learning to help them transform their lives and often other people’s lives as well.

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Winning an award as a result of being nominated, can be an encouraging and life changing experience for learners itself. Some winners of the 2008 awards share their thoughts on how much winning meant to them:

Paul Lee, aged 36, from Oldham, won an award for his dramatic journey from bricklayer to Cambridge University student. Paul says, “Going back to learning helped me feel like my old self again and winning the actual award helped me to get my confidence back. I think the recognition I earned was the most important step in becoming confident, regardless of my learning results, as great as they have been.”

Jack Lewis, aged 90, from Redditch, was recognised for being one of the oldest language learners in the country and is currently learning to speak Russian. Jack says, “I’m very proud to have won an award and I hope I can motivate others, especially the older generation. I’m certainly quite slow compared to the younger learners in my class, but my award proves that it’s never too late to learn.”

John McAnuff, aged 72, from Tottenham, won an award for taking a course in Jamaican Language and Culture and being inspired to spread awareness of his roots by writing, ‘The New Jumiekan Langwij Alfabet Song’. John says, “Winning this award has been a really valuable step in my life and the recognition encourages you like a new surge of energy”.  He continues, “In our media driven society the publicity I got put my talents in the spotlight and opened doors for me. I even got to meet my local MP and he asked me what he could do for me, it was a rare opportunity.”

YMCA Fitness Industry Training, in London, was awarded for helping black and minority ethnic women find work in the fitness industry. YMCAfit Executive Director Robin Gargrave says, “Winning an Adult Learner Award in 2008 was a real honour. It confirmed our belief in the value of what we are trying to achieve as an organisation and gave the whole staff a massive boost. The Award is viewed with pride by everyone at YMCAfit as recognition of our hard work and commitment to providing high quality learning opportunities for all. I commend the Adult Learners’ Week Awards to all education and training providers”.

Clare Harris, aged 35, from Halesowen, was recognised for her journey from school cleaner to school-teacher. Clare says, “Winning the Award has been a great experience and it has encouraged me to ensure I continue with my learning and achieve more. It was also inspiring to hear other people's stories and to meet them at the ceremonies”.

Kamy Basra, Campaigns Officer at NIACE, said:

“Being nominated for an Adult Learners’ Week award is another way of building your learners’ confidence and showing them how remarkable you think their learning achievements have been. And if they’re lucky enough to win an award then they will act as inspirational role models to encourage thousands of others to take up learning.”

She continued, “For our 18th Adult Learners’ Week Awards we would like to give even more remarkable learners the chance to shine and be celebrated by launching the Awards nomination process earlier than ever before. If you know someone whose learning journey deserves recognition and could inspire others to have a go, then nominate them for an Adult Learners’ Week Award. We present awards to individuals, families and groups whose learning has transformed lives for the better. Alternatively, if you think you or your programme should be awarded, then get involved and nominate yourself.”

To nominate, visit www.alw.org.uk/nominate  where you can download forms or request a paper form - nominations can be submitted online or returned by post. Additional nominations forms can be ordered at www.niace.org.uk/alw/2009/order-nomination-forms.htm . The closing date for nominations in England is Wednesday 21st January 2009 (by 5pm).

Nomination forms are also available on audiocassette and in other languages from the NIACE Campaigns Team. For your form telephone 0116 204 4200, or email alw@niace.org.uk

Source: Press Release: "Celebrate inspirational adult learners by nominating them for Adult Learners' Week awards" - [PDF] Released On 14/10/2008