Our annual awards have honoured the efforts of adult learners
When she arrived in the UK to escape the conflict in Ukraine, Olha Honcharuk and her family were faced with a huge amount of uncertainty.
But she has now found a new home in North Yorkshire and a rewarding new job too thanks to support from our adult learning service.
Hundreds of courses will be available from September, covering subjects including English, maths, digital skills, accounting, education and training and creative courses.
Olha is among the winners in our annual adult learning awards after she signed up for courses to improve her English and secure qualifications that would help her rebuild her career.
Adult learner award winner Olha Honcharuk has rebuilt her career in North Yorkshire after fleeing Ukraine, with support from our adult learning service.
She is now employed as a finance officer at Boroughbridge Primary School and is planning to continue her professional development by studying towards the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants qualification.
Olha, who arrived in the UK in December 2022 with her two young children and her mother after being forced to flee her homeland, said:
“When I arrived in the UK, everything was new and unfamiliar. I had to rebuild my life with my children and mother from the beginning.
“The council’s courses gave me the opportunity to improve my English, gain valuable qualifications and, most importantly, build my confidence. The support I received from tutors helped me progress from being new to the country to working and planning the next stage of my career.
“Winning this award is a real honour and shows that with the right support and determination, it is possible to create new opportunities and achieve your goals.”
Our adult learning and skills service has had more than 3,050 people signing up for courses since August last year.
Learners have taken part in a broad range of programmes including maths, English and English for Speakers of Other Languages as well as digital skills, accounting, education and training, safeguarding and craft-based courses.
Another winner in our annual awards is Paul Thomas who discovered our adult learning courses through social media.
Paul Thomas, a coastguard from Whitby and winner at this year’s adult learning awards, pictured with Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, our executive member for education, learning and skills.
He enrolled on a functional skills maths Level 2 course to strengthen his practical maths skills and improve his career prospects.
Paul, a coastguard from Whitby, said: “I would highly recommend the council’s adult learning courses to others. The combination of structured learning and in-person tutor support is ideal for adults looking to develop their skills and opportunities.”
Hundreds of new courses are being offered from September in venues across the county. The courses are designed to be flexible and accessible, with learners able to study online, in person or through a hybrid approach combining both methods.
The service also remains highly affordable, with about 92% of learners eligible to access their courses free of charge, helping to remove financial barriers to education and training.
The delivery of the courses is commissioned through York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Adult Skills Fund.