A mother who left school aged 13 and has gone on to complete more than 20 different courses, an autistic student from Derwentside College and a police inspector have all won awards at this year’s Festival of Learning.
The festival is a national celebration of lifelong learning produced by the Learning and Work Institute, and has been running for nearly 30 years.
The winners, who were revealed in an online ceremony for the first time ever, include inspiring stories of adult learners, as well as outstanding adult learning provision, tutors and employers.
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Stephen Evans, chief executive of Learning and Work Institute, said that the winners show how powerful learning can be.
“Lifelong learning has so many benefits," he said. "It can help people into work or climb the career ladder. Learning can help you make new friends or be active in your community. It can help to improve health and wellbeing. The pandemic intensifies the importance of lifelong learning, but after a decade of cuts too many people miss out with stark inequalities across the country.
“Our award winners, announced during our first Lifelong Learning Week, show just how powerful learning can be and the difference that great tutors and learning providers can make. I hope their stories help to inspire others to go into learning, and make the case for a renewed commitment to – and investment in – lifelong learning.”
Gillian Keegan, minister for apprenticeships and skills, congratulated the winners and said that she hoped their stories would “inspire and motivate others to kickstart their own learning journeys".
“These awards recognise outstanding adult learners and showcase the potential of learning to transform people's lives," she said. "I hope their stories inspire and motivate others to kickstart their own learning journeys.
"We are committed to building back better after the pandemic, and lifelong learning will play a vital role in our recovery. Whether it’s by using The Skills Toolkit to gain digital and numeracy skills, or through our new lifelong learning guarantee, we want as many people as possible to be able to gain the skills and confidence they need to progress in work and achieve their potential."
The Festival of Learning winners
- Patron’s Award (selected by HRH The Princess Royal): Hannah Wilkins
- President’s Award: Positive People
- Outstanding Individual Award: Brandon Layton
- Learning for Health Award: Health and Wellbeing Programme, Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service
- Employer Award: National Crime Agency
- Tutor Award: Evripides Evriviades
- Learning for Work Award: Paul Barnsley
- New Directions Awards: Laura Dunn-Green
- English Language Learning Award: Rubi Naz
- Project Award: Motiv8
- Return to Learning Award: Liz Collins
- Social Impact Award: Phil Branigan
