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Adult Learners’ Week regional awards

ESF Outstanding Individual Learner awards have been presented to winners at regional events up and down the country as part of Adult Learners’ Week (ALW). Taking place this year between 12-18 May, ALW is the largest UK learning campaign and is organised by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE).  The ESF awards recognise the individual achievements of learners who have transformed and improved their lives with the help of learning and training funded by the European Social Fund in England.

In the East of England region, single parent Keith Knight received his award at an ALW awards ceremony at the Duxford Imperial War Museum in Cambridgeshire. His award was presented to him by BBC TV Look East presenter Susie Fowler-Watt and Laurie Kay representing the Skills Funding Agency. His award recognizes learning achievements that have brought him from long term unemployment to a job and improving career prospects in the security industry. “The difference [learning] has made to myself and my family is quite remarkable,” said Keith.

At the South West ALW event, held at the splendid new Weston-Super-Mare Pier on Thursday 17 May, ESF Individual Award winner Karl Steane received his award from Cheryl Baker, the singer from Bucks Fizz. Karl, who is 22 years old and from Newlyn in Cornwall, had been unemployed for 9 months and was low in confidence until Penzance Job Centre referred him to the ESF-funded Employability Course being run by Cornwall Fire and Rescue, where he was helped towards an ASDAN qualification, work experience and paid employment.

At an event for the Midlands held in Leicester on Wednesday 16 May, Faye Garley received her ESF Outstanding Learner award from Andrew Brooks representing Lincolnshire County Council. Faye is also this year’s national award winner in this category, and she had earlier in the week received her national award at the London Adult Learners Week Awards event. Also honoured at the Midlands awards was the Digital Activist Inclusion Network (DAIN) from Nottingham, who won the national ESF Inspiring Learning Project Award. 

The ESF individual learner award for the North West went to Janet Hilton at an event held at the Manchester Museum. After running a business for 13 years, Janet wanted to put something more back into her community and with support and encouragement from the ESF funded Work Academy at Liverpool Community College she is now in paid employment at the college and has started a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector Qualification.

Another Outstanding Individual award went to Richard Titterton, who won in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Richard has gained numerous qualifications and a CSCS card, qualifying him to work on building sites, with the help of the Step Change Employment programme, funded by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and ESF.

And last but not least Jonathan Watson was the ESF award winner in London. Jonathan has experienced long term drug and alcohol issues and has lived on benefits for 22 years. With support from the ESF Cranstoun Skills for Life project, Jonathan is now turning his life around; active as a volunteer helping others to recover from their addiction, and taking a number of courses including a Health and Social Care Level 2 Course at London’s City Lit college. "I hope to continue on my path of recovery one day at a time and be able to help people improve their lives for the benefit of themselves and their family," says Jonathan.

• Adult Learners’ Week winners stories