West Berkshire Council's 2015 Learner Achievement Awards took place at Shaw House in June, demonstrating the depth of learning opportunities available to adults (over 19 years) including professional, academic and vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, courses for pleasure and family learning.
This year's winners included Newbury College Keeping Active Group (Fairclose Day Centre) for the Group Learners category, Xtrac apprentice Timothy Plows for the Outstanding Achievement category and GCSE student Michelle Edwards for the Return to Learning category.
Curriculum Manager for GCSEs and A Levels, Jilly Carrell, said "Michelle has worked so hard this year in developing her GCSE skills and is keen to progress to A Levels next year. She has fought, and overcome adversity, and her advice for others in the same situation, thinking about returning to education is "Just do it!" She is a highly deserving winner and it has been a pleasure to work with her over the past year."
Curriculum Manager for Community Learning, Sarah Hughes, said "We are really pleased that we had so many winners from Newbury College in this year's West Berkshire Learner Achievement Awards. These annual awards are a fantastic way to celebrate the outstanding success and achievement of individual learners, groups and organisations involved in adult learning across West Berkshire during the academic year. We are really pleased that Fairclose Day Centre won the Group Learner category; they have achieved some fantastic work over the year, despite battling complex learning difficulties, disabilities and dementia. The awards really inspires others to get involved in adult learning and cements the message that it is never too late to learn."