Colleges give adults ‘second chance’ Monday, November 8, 2010 - 12:56

Each year, adults - alongside countless Adult Learners' Week award winners - take control of their lives by returning to learning. They are proof of the positive transformation colleges can make, not only to individuals, but also to those closest to them:

Julie Davies, aged 39, from Warrington, was forced out of her job with Royal Mail when she was 30, due to a progressive heart disease. To get her life back on track, she signed up for an adult learner programme at Priestley College, which has led her on a journey to winning a British Psychological Society Prize.

Ten years on from the initial Level 2 literacy, numeracy and CLAIT courses, Julie has gained a 1st Class Honours BSc in Applied Psychology from Liverpool John Moores University - studying part-time while bringing up two children - and aims to become a clinical psychologist.

Glennis Hassall, her nominator and first tutor all those years ago, said:

"Julie felt she was on the scrapheap. She has a huge personality, which I believe to some extent masked her lack of self-confidence. She also has a generosity to contribute time and effort both to others who find themselves in the same boat as herself and to the local community."

I'm learning as much as I can now because I love it and because it's had such a positive effect on my life. I hope I can inspire other people my age to follow suit.

Jim Kelly

Julie said hard work and determination helped her excel at her studies and win the British Psychological Society Prize as the outstanding graduate at her university:

"My learning journey has made an incredible difference to my life and, as an advocate of lifelong learning; I expect it will continue to do so."

Jim Kelly, aged 83, from Sutton Coldfield, was asked a series of questions by his granddaughter which he couldn't answer, so he decided to visit his local college and enrol on maths and English courses. "I've been counting my blessings ever since", he said.

Having left school at 14 with no qualifications and spending many years labouring on a building site, Jim began a series of short courses aged 69 and gained a C grade in GCSE maths, aged 73. He said:

"It's given me a much better outlook on life...I feel that older people could really benefit from learning."

"It was only in his retirement that Jim acquired a thirst for knowledge," said nominator Richard Przyrodzki, from Fircroft College of Adult Education. Jim has undertaken many residential courses with Fircroft College and in 2009 successfully completed courses including literacy and Spelling, Gardening, Write for Meaning and Read for Meaning. He also completed the college's Ransackers course, for which Jim completed a 5,000 word final report which was word processed, despite having very little computer knowledge.

Jim said:

"It's not just about acquiring knowledge though. Learning in general has given me 100% confidence. In the last year or so, I've felt I have gained more experience and more confidence by completing more courses and I've really progressed."

My learning journey has made an incredible difference to my life and, as an advocate of lifelong learning; I expect it will continue to do so.

Julie Davies

"I'm learning as much as I can now because I love it and because it's had such a positive effect on my life. I hope I can inspire other people my age to follow suit."

Mark Ravenhall, Director of Operations at NIACE, said:

"NIACE is delighted to support Colleges Week. Colleges provide opportunities for millions of adults every year to learn new skills for work or personal fulfillment. They are often the first route back into learning for adults who deserve a ‘second chance'. Further Education Colleges are a key part of local progression pathways for people brushing up their reading to those taking degrees."

"Every year during Adult Learners' Week, we see many examples of those who had inspiring learning journeys due to the hard work of college staff and governors working with their local communities and employers. Celebrating the achievement of adult learners like Jim and Julie is important whether they are gaining new skills in colleges, through local authorities, private training providers or the voluntary sector. Celebration reminds us of the value of learning and inspires others. Colleges' Week is an important part of that."