The event on July 19 was put on by the council’s Lambeth Adult Learning service which provides education and training opportunities for over-19s to help them get the skills needed to get a job or improve their wellbeing.
The annual event was also an opportunity to recognise the dedication of the staff and volunteers across the council’s 10 different learning providers. In total Lambeth Adult Learning runs almost 500 courses which are taken by 3,000 Lambeth residents each year to learn something new.
Six awards were handed to exceptional learners and staff at the event.
Councillor Marcia Cameron, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion, said: “I was delighted to attend this event because it demonstrates how as a council we are dedicated to tackling inequality across the borough by widening participation in lifelong learning. It also highlighted how important working in partnership is in achieving that.
“Our service is supporting people who are new to learning, don’t have formal qualifications and who are furthest from the job market. Building these skills makes a real difference to people’s lives so it was brilliant to be able to hail the efforts of our learners and the staff and volunteers who help them achieve so much.”
The event began with a board game activity where learners and staff discussed health and wellbeing, and was followed by learners sharing their journey.
Among them was Olga who started learning English for the first time in 2014 at Morley College in Waterloo, and is now in her final year studying law. She said: “I remember every day of learning English – because every single word learned changed the way I could express myself.”
Another learner, Fatima, said she was motivated to complete qualifications in English, maths and ICT from MI Skills Development Centre in Brixton by her desire to get out of the house and find work. Fatima, who now works as an Outreach Officer and Arabic teacher, said: “I am now more confident to face the challenges in life. I am also so much more independent as I can now do everything myself without asking anyone for help.”
Lambeth Adult Learning service courses run throughout the year. For more information visit lambeth.gov.uk.
The Award winners were:
- Loris Daley – Outstanding Learner Award
- Raymond Lukwago – Outstanding Learner Award
- Fatma Ali – Progression to Employment Award
- Entry Level 3 Writing group at The Baytree Centre, Brixton – Outstanding Group Award
- Giuseppe Grauso, Data Officer at High Trees, Tulse Hill – Outstanding Colleague of the Year Award
- Elena Torre from Train2Work Academy, Streatham – Outstanding Tutor of the Year Award
