Awards to celebrate back-to-class success

ADULTS who transform their lives by going back to the classroom to learn have the chance to get the recognition they deserve.

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is urging Oldhamers to make nominations for its Adult Learners’ Week Awards 2009.

Every year NIACE receives over 1,000 nominations from colleges, businesses, adult education providers, museums, libraries and elsewhere and aims to make its 18th Adult Learners’ Week the most successful yet.

The awards aim to illustrate the extraordinary achievements of adult learners — young, old and in all their diversity.

Organisers say winning an award can be an encouraging and life-changing experience for learners.

This year Paul Lee (36), from Oldham, won an award for his journey from bricklayer to Cambridge University student.

He said: “Going back to learning helped me feel like my old self again and winning an award helped me to get my confidence back.

“I think the recognition I earned was the most important step in becoming confident, regardless of my learning results, as great as they have been.”

Adult Learners’ Week is the UK’s largest festival and celebration of learning and runs from May 9 to 15. NIACE campaigns officer Kamy Basra said: “Being nominated for an award is another way of building your learners’ confidence and showing them how remarkable you think their learning achievements have been.

“If you know someone whose learning journey deserves recognition and could inspire others to have a go, then nominate them for an Adult Learners’ Week Award.

“We also present awards to families, groups and organisations whose learning has transformed lives for the better.”

To nominate visit www.alw.org.uk/nominate where you can download forms or request a paper form to return by post by January 21. Nomination forms are also available on audiocassette and in other languages by calling 0116 204 4200 or e-mail alw@niace.org.uk.