An 81-year-old, a bus driver and a domestic abuse survivor have scooped awards at the Festival of Learning.
The awards, which celebrate lifelong learning, are hosted by the Learning and Work Institute and highlight the inspiring stories of adult learners, as well as outstanding adult learning provision, tutors and employers.
Eighty-one-year-old Daya Mohindra was given the online learning award after she joined a health and wellbeing course organised for people with disabilities, and went on to complete several online art courses during lockdown.
Paul Ackroyd, a bus driver from Yorkshire, has received the learning for health award, which is supported by the WEA. Following a diagnosis with a life-changing condition, he started a variety of level 2 courses to gain a better understanding of his condition.
And Kirsty Young, also from Yorkshire, won the return to learning award, which is supported by City Lit. According to the awards citation, Ms Young faced domestic abuse and was isolated from the outside world. She was encouraged by her mother to join East Riding College and has since been able to build a new life for herself and her three children.
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Overall, 12 winners were named, including Matthew Turner, a young man from Bradford who, having been held back by his autism, has been selected by HRH the Princess Royal to receive the Patron’s Award, and Nikki-Ann Wyatt, from Salford, who lost her successful career as a pastry chef following a serious motorbike accident. She won the new directions award, supported by the Skills and Education Group, after returning to learning at the Trafford College Group and discovering her passion for engineering.
The Festival of Learning awards: ‘We must make this the lifelong learning decade’
Stephen Evans, chief executive of Learning and Work Institute, said: “Learning something new has been a lifeline for many during the pandemic, and adult education will be critical to our recovery, too. Lifelong learning can help people find a new job or retrain for a new career. But it can also help you make new friends, be active in your community, and improve your health and wellbeing. That’s why we must make the next 10 years the lifelong learning decade, offering everyone the chance to experience the difference that learning at any age can bring.
“Our award winners 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, said: “I’d like to congratulate all of this year’s Festival of Learning award winners and finalists. These awards shine a light on the power of education to change people’s lives. I hope the inspirational stories of the outstanding adult learners motivate others to fire up their own learning journeys.
“We have put skills at the heart of our plans to build back from the pandemic. Our Lifetime Skills Guarantee and Plan for Jobs will make sure everyone has the opportunity to learn and develop the skills they need to succeed at any age. As part of this, our free courses for jobs offers almost 400 free courses to adults without a full level 3 qualification in a range of sectors including engineering, health and digital, to help even more people get good jobs.”
The Festival of Learning is supported by the Department for Education, NOCN, the Education and Training Foundation, the Skills and Education Group, City Lit and the WEA. The Patron’s Award winner is chosen by Learning and Work Institute’s Patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
Festival of learning: The full list of award winners
- Matthew Turner: patron’s award
- CARAS ESOL: president’s award
- Rosie Wainwright: outstanding individual award
- Salts Healthcare Ltd: employer award, supported by NOCN
- Jose Aguiar: tutor award, supported by the Education and Training Foundation
- Naomi-Louize: learning for work award, supported by NOCN
- Nikki-Ann Wyatt: new directions award, supported by the Skills and Education Group
- Paul Ackroyd: learning for health award
- Hasan Jasim: English language learning award
- Positive Progressions: learning provision award
- Kirsty Young: return to learning award
- Daya Mohindra: online learning award
