Chesterfield learner wins top national learning award
11/06/2009
Chesterfield learner Lisa Barnett is celebrating her success today after winning an award at the national learndirect Achievement Awards Ceremony.
Chesterfield learner Lisa Barnett is celebrating her success today after winning an award at the national learndirect Achievement Awards Ceremony.
Lisa Barnett won the national Progression Award, which recognises learners who have progressed personally or professionally after completing a learndirect course.
Lisa came to learndirect in Clay Cross last year at a difficult time in her life. She believed that as well as gaining valuable skills, the courses could help take her mind off her worries. She wanted to gain the confidence to get on in her life, and once she visited the centre, she found that meeting and socialising with other learners was a great help. Lisa set herself a challenging programme of learning, wanting to turn the opportunity to her advantage. She is a great example to other learners of what can be achieved, and using her new-found skills she is now doing a Foundation Degree in Youth Justice at Nottingham Trent University.
On winning the national award, Lisa said:
“I gained confidence from my own success – so with every achievement I took another step forward. For such a short period of time, I gained an awful lot from the experience. I would never have gone to university without going to learndirect first.”
The learndirect Achievement Awards, now in their third year, celebrate learners who are going that extra mile to learn new skills, businesses whose employees are gaining new qualifications, and the people and centres supporting them. The Awards recognise people from all walks of life, for example learners who have overcome personal difficulties or have returned to learning after many years, and businesses working with learndirect to train their workforce.
Lisa had previously won the Progression Award at the East Midlands regional learndirect Achievement Awards in June.
TV presenter Eamonn Holmes, who presented the awards with his wife Ruth Langsford said:
"Ruth and I are both delighted to support the learndirect Achievement Awards. We have worked with learndirect in the past to highlight the difference learning can make to people’s lives, and have seen first-hand how learners from across the UK are boosting their skills, improving their job prospects and becoming more confident. All the finalists are truly inspiring, and we were honoured to help celebrate their success at the national learndirect Achievement Awards ceremony.”
Chief Executive of learndirect, Sarah Jones said:
“The national winners and highly commended finalists have shown exceptional determination, and have gone that extra mile to learn new skills and improve their qualifications, or have supported others to achieve their goals. These finalists are an inspiration to millions of learners, support staff and businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and truly deserve recognition.”