  Tina Davies: Learner of the Year
To mark the 21st anniversary of NIACE Dysgu Cymru, we introduced a very special award category at this year's Inspire Awards. For the first time ever, we announced an overall Learner of the Year Award winner. Tina Davies, already a category winner in the Community Learning Award, was chosen as the overall winner by an independent panel consisting of BBC Wales' broadcaster and teacher Phil Steele; John Gates of the Adult Learners Network; Aled Blake, Education Correspondent for the Western Mail, and Moira Sharkey, Education Correspondent for the South Wales Echo. Tina's determination wins over the judges
Tina struggled to get on when she was younger, but her hard work and determination in returning to adult learning really impressed the judges. After leaving school with no qualifications, low self esteem and becoming a young parent, Tina then experienced serious health problems, which led to long-term unemployment. Tina said: “I became a very isolated person". Tina then followed a course that was to change her life. She trained as a volunteer play worker at Ty Fforest, completed courses in committee skills, keeping accounts and team building, gained certificates in Introduction to Youth Work, Food Hygiene, First Aid and Play Training. She then advanced to Training as an IT Tutor, has just gained her 2 year NVQ Level 3 in Child Care and sits on the Management Committee of the Community House. In the future Tina hopes to run her own childcare facility. "I've achieved things I never thought possible."
Tina said: “As my children grew up I got very embarrassed at my lack of education, so I was given the chance I thought I would never get, to better myself and gain qualifications". Tina's mentor at Ty Fforest Community House and award nominator, Amy Sanders, said: “Now Tina is a different person. Her training has given her the confidence she needs to jointly manage the Community House and she is also the co-ordinator of the after school club and playschemes. Her training has revealed how talented she is at working with children. Tina gives so much to her community and asks nothing in return. Tina is not driven by self-interest. Her motivation is to change her community and she is fighting against the social deprivation in her area by using her newly achieved qualifications”. Tina said: “I now have a whole new circle of friends that have helped me tremendously. I am able to achieve things I never thought possible". Back to top
Evaluating Adult Learners' Week 2006
Evaluation is essential Without evaluation, we cannot secure future funding for our campaigns.
We need your help to prove the success of Adult Learners' Week. Evaluation is the life-blood for all our campaigns. Without comprehensive monitoring and hard facts and figures, we cannot prove that campaigns like Adult Learners' Week are successful and that makes it extremely difficult to secure funding and ongoing public and political support. As we are sure you are aware, this funding relies upon the statistics we gather from each campaign. We would be grateful if you could help us with this by returning as soon as possible: - The participants' Consent Forms that were collected at your Adult Learners' Week events (either ours or ones that you have made yourself)
- A Providers Evaluation Form filled in with all your event information.
The relevant documents can be found on our website Learning Promotion Grant winners must do this as part of the conditions of their grant award. It is not compulsory for anybody else to send an Evaluation Report but it is essential that we build a true and complete picture of events right across Wales. We can only do this with your help. Don't forget your learners can win £200!
The introduction of our free prize draw has been very successful in attracting learners to previous events and has enhanced the information compiled as part of our essential evaluation process. The Consent Form Cheque includes all the usual questions we ask learners in order to gather the information we require to assess the effectiveness of our campaigns. But with an extra financial carrot!!! To encourage your learners to fill in the Consent Form Cheque, there is also the chance to win £200! So get all your forms sent back to us as soon as possible ! Back to top
How evaluation could win your organisation a £1,000 grant
Get your Consent Forms to us by June 30th 2006 and you could be awarded a £1,000 Learning Promotion Grant ! If you are the provider who sends us the most Consent Form Cheques by 30 June you will be awarded a Learning Promotion Grant worth £1,000 to be used during the forthcoming 'Sign Up Season' Campaign this August and September. So it really is worth your while to get them back to us ASAP. We will also be commissioning a telephone survey to find out who went along to the events during Adult Learners' Week and what they did as a result! Back to top
 Get ready for the next campaign
Sign Up Season 21 August - 22 September 2006
Once again we are backing the campaign with a national promotion, including regional guides and free merchandising for our providers. During Sign Up Season, awareness and interest in learning reaches a peak, so make sure you maximise the opportunity for your organisation. Is everything in place for your enrolment event or open day? Do you have enough posters? Are you ready for one of the most crucial 'sign up' periods of the year? Promoting Your Sign Up Season Events Don't forget to get in touch with your local radio or newspaper contact - ask them to list your event in their round up of 'What's On'. Many media contacts will do this free of charge. You can download tips on writing press releases and a downloadable press release for Sign Up Season from the Sign Up Season website. All you have to do is insert the event details! Order your free posters for the Sign Up Season Campaign If you are going to get involved on the ground and will help us to promote Sign Up Season by organising events and displaying our posters, we really appreciate your support. |