An adult learner from Chorley in Lancashire has been named an Outstanding
Learner of the Year at the Regional learndirect
Achievement Awards.
Dawn Stoddard hadn't worked for 12 years when she decided to enrol on a
learndirect course. She had previously gained a diploma in
person-centred counselling, which was a remarkable achievement as she was
also nursing her father through a terminal illness at the time.
However, after the death of her father, Dawn found it difficult to get a
job, having been out of work for so long. She was lacking the basic
literacy, numeracy and computer skills necessary to get on in the
workplace.
Instead of resigning herself to a future at home, Dawn was determined to
get back to work and signed up for basic skills courses through her local
job centre. They put her in touch with a nearby
learndirect centre at Lancashire College and she was soon
enrolled in adult numeracy and adult literacy courses at levels one and
two. She then went on to take a computer skills course and started applying
for jobs again.
This time she had no trouble getting interviews and quickly found herself
in her new role as a community support worker for people with mental health
problems. Dawn says she has learndirect to thank for her
new-found confidence. "I would recommend anyone to do their learning the
learndirect way! Thanks to them, I have at last been given
the opportunity to put my newly-gained skills into practice," she
added.
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first step towards learning? See learners describe
their experiences, so you know exactly what to expect. 