Adult Learner's Week 2008
The event was held at the Barns Hotel, Bedford on Wednesday 21st May 2008. Beverley Trotman (X Factor Star) was the guest at the awards ceremony and she flew the flag for the local area. The awards celebrated the local achievement and recognised the good practice in the field of learning across Bedfordshire and Luton.
The winners are:
Gwyneth Young – Family Learning
Nominated by Marie McIntosh, Luton Adult Community Learning
Gwyneth has attended Family courses at St Matthew’s Primary School and has learnt how to support her twin daughters who were diagnosed with moderate dyslexia. She has been able to develop her own skills to gain a City & Guilds Numeracy and Literacy qualifications at level 2. The courses have enabled Gwyneth to become a more confident individual and she has now applied to Barnfield College to study for a diploma in Child Care and Education. She now has the chance to have the career she has always wanted after not enjoying her time in school. This proves that you are never too late to learn and that life begins at forty! Gwyneth has worked very hard at home with her daughters, patiently and confidently and has been rewarded for her efforts.
Bedfordshire Training & Assessment Centre (BTAC) – Learning through Partnership
Nominated by Helen Field & Donna Totman – Lead Internal Verifiers, BTAC
The main aim of BTAC is to provide training that will enable those working directly with young children to develop appropriate skills and qualifications in a way that meets the diverse needs of an ever-changing workforce. BTAC operates a roll on roll off programme; learners can begin training at any time of the year. BTAC caters for each learner as an individual putting in place extra support when required. Each learner is allocated an assessor who works with them on a 1:1 basis, and they meet as many times as required to complete the qualification. Due to the flexibility of the delivery the drop out rate is low and success is high. Learners return to progress to the next level. The BTAC ethos is that no one fails; support is put in place to help everyone achieve.
Grace Sheldon – Learning Champion
Nominated by Jane Clark, Community Development, bpha
Grace left school at 16 with no qualifications. She did not think that she would be able to do the things that she has achieved such as the Treasurer’s Course in Chester from which she came back with a grant of £3,000 towards her community group. What is remarkable about her learning achievements is that Grace herself did not think that she would be able to achieve these things and now feels that, as a result of her achievements she has the ability to talk to anyone – celebrities, councilors, community members. She works with the local Street Warden reporting issues to them. She helps to organise events that bring people together and is now completing application forms for grants that enable the groups she works with to deliver events. Grace has seen a new world and new skills opening up to her as a result of her learning and she has become confident and an effective organiser. She has even delivered talks promoting her groups, although she prefers to talk to people informally. She is looking forward to taking up other learning opportunities when they arise. She has taken every opportunity to improve her skills and is reaping the benefits in her voluntary work and in her life generally.
Michael Baker – Lifelong Learner
Nominated by Katie Hartshorn, bpha
Mick first sought advice and guidance at bpha’s community house in March 2005 having been made redundant from a company he had worked at for 14 years. At the time being made redundant made Mick feel extremely low and his confidence had clearly been shaken. He was worried about whether he would get another job, CV formats and the process of applying for and being interviewed for jobs had changed a lot since he was looking for work. He did not have any formal academic qualifications and could not drive and these perceived barriers were worrying Mick. It is now 2008 and Mick has been on an incredible journey. His full title is now Mick Baker – GRADIOSH Dip RSA MIIRSM and despite suffering another set back of being made redundant again in July 2007, Mick has learnt to drive and has achieved an NVQ Level 4 in Occupational Health and Safety as well as several other industry related qualifications.
What is remarkable about Mick’s learning is that despite suffering two redundancies within two years, he did not give in; he continued to want to learn and achieved such a lot. Mick has shown incredible strength of character and has achieved a lot of learning in such a short space of time. Mick is a real inspiration to those who are getting near to retirement and face a difficult situation such as redundancy.
Ashleigh Fraser – Adult Learner of the Year
Nominated by Alison McLean, Dunstable College
Ashleigh has been a student at Dunstable College for four years. During the four years Ashleigh has achieved Beauty Level 1 & 2 and Hairdressing Level 1 and is on target to complete Level 2 Hairdressing. Ashleigh joined college at the age of sixteen as a troubled teenager and found it very hard to adapt to college life and work independently as a young adult. Over the last two years she has had many personal emotional times but with her determination she has continued her studies and is always smiling and willing to learn and support other members of the group in study and friendship.
Ashleigh is an inspiration to all; she is one determined young lady who wants to better herself. She has done this through sheer hard work, determination and commitment to her studies.
Dalip Mahrra – Adult Learner of the Year
Nominated by Mary Granger, Barnfield College
Dalip is attending a full time programme for adults with learning disabilities. This is to enable him to improve his communication skills and gain confidence to become more independent within his community and pursue the possibility of supported independent living and maybe supported employment. He has achieved certificates from the Open College Network for a number of courses and he has achieved City & Guilds Numeracy E1 and is at present working towards E2.
Dalip’s achievements are remarkable because he has severe autism and it has been very challenging for him to deal with lots of people and the general noise around a busy college. In the past Dalip only communicated using Makaton signing and would get demoralised if he could not make himself understood. Dalip is a valued member of the local Hindu community and has the confidence to attend the local temple and meet with friends and family. He is keen to continue improving his Basic Skills with the long term goal of living independently and finding supported employment. He now uses the spoken language and is continuing to develop this. He is making his own decisions and has proved that it is possible to have severe autism and with the right learning environment can make adjustments to live a fuller life.
Pauline Wolfenden – Tutor of the Year
Nominated by Jane Mortimer, Bedfordshire Adult Community Learning
Pauline has more than 30 years experience of Modern Foreign Language teaching. She brings a wealth of experience to her work enriched by over 15 years of service as an Open College Network moderator. Pauline’s approach to her work is professional and highly motivated. She combines this with an empathy and understanding for her team and for learners, whether in her role of moderator, internal verifier, tutor, curriculum co-ordinator or line manager.
Her quiet demeanour and friendly cheerfulness conceal her many talents and skills and the purposefulness of her approach to every challenge. She works on and on to get results as demonstrated in her meticulously thought out information sheets and PowerPoint presentations in her training sessions.
Peter Males – Volunteer
Nominated by Jane Clark, Community Development, bpha
Peter has been a volunteer with Silver Surfers @ Bedford for the last 5 years. He has volunteered in Kempston and Bedford and attends nearly all the volunteer training sessions that are offered. He has attended the Assessing Basic Skills course in the past where he learned to become aware of literacy and numeracy issues with learners that he teaches. Peters volunteering means that he learns new skills all the time. He has a wonderful rapport with the older learners, showing them how to use the computer and internet with patience and interest. He enjoys working with people who are learning, volunteers with enthusiasm, teaches and learns with enthusiasm and humour and has taught 50+ older people how to enjoy using their computers with confidence and skill. Peter is a source of continued support to the learners and the learners love him and keep coming back for his help.
Laurie Evans – Workplace
Nominated by Richard Clifton, GMM Luton
Laurie has been involved with his trade union ‘Amicus’ for over 5 years. In his role as Senior Staff Representative he has championed ‘lifelong learning’ in our workplace at GMM Luton (formerly IBC Vehicles). Laurie appreciates the benefits of education and freely admits that when he left school his reading and writing skills were not as they should have been. This has not stopped him wanting to help others to improve their basic skills. To date over 1000 members have attended courses organised by Laurie. Eight years ago Laurie suffered two heart attacks and now has a defribulator fitted in case he has another, this has not slowed him down in wanting to help others. Laurie deserves this award as a lot of the work he does goes unnoticed. He would say that “it is a team effort” however the team needs a captain and Laurie takes on that role. On a personal note Laurie still finds time to be a football linesman and is learning to speak Spanish.
