WMCA award nominations

 

The Adult Learning Awards shine a light on students, teachers, employers, and providers from across the West Midlands.
This year, Adult Education Wolverhampton nominated the following 6 students for awards.

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony in Birmingham on 8 July.

Read on to find out more about our worthy nominees:

 

Priyanka Khanduja - GCSE maths and English

I had reached a point in my life where I had stopped focusing solely on myself and my dream of a career working in a library here in the UK. One August afternoon, a bright poster advertising an open day at Adult Education Wolverhampton caught my eye, radiating a sense of hope and possibility.

At the event, I had an inspiring conversation with a member of the Student Services team. She introduced me to the idea of working towards a GCSE qualification and encouraged me to pursue both Maths and English. At first, I felt frustrated, the thought of restarting my learning journey here in the UK seemed daunting. But I knew this was an opportunity to reclaim my dreams, make my family back in India proud, and set a positive example to my daughter. 

Enrolling in the course turned out to be a life-changing decision. My Maths and English teachers transformed not only my confidence but also my personality and outlook. With their support, I regained the belief in myself and my ability to return to the workforce. This journey has transformed me both mentally and physically. I feel stronger, more confident, and more active due to the change in routine. Volunteering at a library gave me hands-on experience, and successfully clearing the test and interview for a library position was a defining moment. My confidence and self-esteem have grown immensely; I now communicate with positivity and far less fear. Meeting my mentor after 22 years was another highlight; receiving a signed copy of his book and his encouragement further fuelled my passion for lifelong learning.

My achievements have made my family in India incredibly proud. Their unwavering support keeps me motivated to continue learning and growing. My daughter was overjoyed when I received my results, reinforcing the importance of perseverance and education. Additionally, I have formed friendships with deeply inspiring individuals, creating a support system that continues to encourage and uplift me.

At work, I actively share my learning journey, inspiring colleagues and community members to embrace education as a lifelong pursuit. I believe in leading by example, showing others that continuous growth not only benefits us individually but also sets a powerful precedent for our children and the wider community.

 

Chelsea Musgrove – Childcare / Teaching Assistants / GCSE Maths

In September 2023, I enrolled in a Level 2 Childcare course at Adult Education Wolverhampton (AEW), which I completed in July 2024. This experience not only gave me a qualification but also helped me understand my own challenges and my children’s needs. Inspired to make a difference, I am currently studying towards a Level 2 Teaching Assistant qualification and GCSE maths. Adult Education Wolverhampton has provided an encouraging learning environment where I feel comfortable and inspired to learn.

If someone had told me this would be my path, I wouldn’t have believed them. My past was very different from my present. With diagnoses of EUPD (Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder), Autism, and ADHD, I struggled to navigate a world that often felt incomprehensible. Hospital admissions were necessary for my healing and safety, all while I had two children at home who needed me.

In 2020, I decided to return home and support both myself and my children. I attended parenting programs, rediscovered joy, and in 2023, I enrolled in Adult Education for my first-ever course. I had no idea it would ignite my passion for learning. From childcare to dyslexia awareness, each course has empowered me, and discovering my own dyslexic traits led to the support I needed.

These experiences have inspired me to pursue a career in teaching because I believe all neurodiverse children and adults deserve equal opportunities to reach their full potential. Through this journey, I’ve also recognised my children’s additional needs, and I am committed to ensuring they receive the support they need to thrive.

This is just the beginning, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

 

Harmeet Kaur – Digital Skills

I started searching online for short courses near where I live and came across Adult Education Wolverhampton. Everything happened so fast that I got registered with Digital Skills for work course in 2022, followed by IT Skills Level 2. After completing both these courses in 2022/2023, I decided to advance my knowledge in IT and joined an ICDL Advanced Level 3 course in September 2023. I have gained skills in Advanced Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Database, and Access. Despite all the challenges I had been facing, I took all 5 exams with the support of my teacher and completed the course successfully.

I started looking for other short-term courses in IT and came across ‘Business Data Analytics’ Level 3, an online course that I could complete at home. I completed the course in 12 weeks and gained basic knowledge in SQL, Python language, Excel, and a Visualisation tool like Tableau. This course has enhanced my CV and will be beneficial when applying for future jobs. In the future, I plan to advance my knowledge in Data Analytics.

I have been passionate about learning since my childhood. It was my dream to gain a Degree in Computer Applications and have a successful career in this field. My dreams were shattered when I got married at the age of 19. I couldn’t go against my parent’s and accepted their decision, but nobody could snatch away the passion I had.

I am a single mother with a son on the Autistic Spectrum. I have struggled with physical and mental health, and have no past work experience due to my circumstances. I chose to rise above all my fears, and in 2022, I took my first step towards learning and getting a better life for myself and my children. 

Learning has given me a clear vision and purpose. I was lost and confused but with all the support and help I received at Adult Education Wolverhampton I started discovering my capabilities.

After completing the courses at Adult Education Wolverhampton, I felt alive and confident and started accepting my weaknesses and embracing my life. Learning has given me hope of getting work in IT and the opportunity to explore a better version of myself and discover my capabilities and potential.

 

Timothy Jackson – British Sign Language

I began learning BSL after experiencing two episodes of Sudden Sensory Neural Hearing Loss, which left me profoundly hard of hearing in both ears. While powerful hearing aids help, my ability to understand speech depends on background noise, proximity, and familiarity with voices.

Although doctors say a third episode is unlikely, I prefer to be proactive rather than reactive. Learning BSL now, while I still have some hearing, allows me to adapt more easily if my hearing declines further. Instead of waiting until I am completely deaf, I see BSL as an "insurance option" for maintaining independence and communication.

My goal is to prepare for the future while enriching my present. Learning BSL enables me to engage more fully with the Deaf community and ensures I will always have a way to connect with others, no matter what happens. Top of FormBottom of Form

Following my first episode of Sudden Sensory Neural Hearing Loss, likely due to an adverse flu vaccination reaction, I had to take early retirement from my high-pressure role as a Senior Operational Finance professional in a demanding corporate industry. After my second episode, caused by Covid, I took the time to reassess my hearing strategy, initially turning to lipreading classes. However, through experience and discussions with my teacher, I realised that supplementing and eventually replacing lipreading with BSL was the best way forward.

This learning has been truly life-changing. It has given me the confidence to navigate my new reality with greater independence, resilience, and optimism. I now feel better prepared for any further hearing decline and have discovered a vibrant new social circle through the Deaf community.

Beyond personal growth, the support and wisdom of my teachers has been invaluable. They have taught me not just BSL but also how to be “streetwise deaf”, practical, real-world skills that no other resource offers to the newly deafened. Their guidance has made an immeasurable difference in my life, and I am deeply grateful.

BSL has transformed what once felt like a loss into an opportunity to connect, to grow, and to embrace a new way of living with confidence.

 

Mark Corbett – Life Skills Yoga

My learning journey began at West Park Rehabilitation Centre in Wolverhampton, where I was encouraged to join the Like Minds Yoga classes at Adult Education Wolverhampton. Initially, I had many doubts, where to park, walking into a class of strangers, and the idea of learning yoga itself seemed daunting. My only perception of yoga came from TV, where it appeared to be just an exercise for flexible people. However, I took the leap and, to my surprise, have now been attending for two years. At first, I couldn’t understand how slow movements on a mat could be so challenging, but over time, I realised the immense benefits, both physically and mentally. My motivation was to improve my well-being, and I’ve achieved a greater sense of balance, strength, and mindfulness. Yoga has truly transformed my perspective, making me appreciate the deep connection between mind and body.

Attending Like Minds Yoga has had a profound impact on my life, both physically and mentally. Initially, my motivation was self-focused, I had been through life-threatening illnesses, including Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Evans Syndrome, and a stroke caused by a massive blood clot. I wanted to regain control of my body and mind. However, over time, my focus shifted. Yoga became more than just an activity; it became a space for healing, growth, and self-expression.

Through this journey, my confidence has flourished. I went from barely speaking in class to sharing my poetry, which was eventually published. This experience has given me a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. It has also allowed me to connect with like-minded people who uplift and support each other.

Now, I’m not just surviving, I’m thriving. Yoga has transformed me from a quiet, introverted man into someone who embraces life with confidence and creativity.

 

Stacey Dulson – Life Skills English, Maths, Cookery / Supported Employment

Before I started my courses, I felt very nervous and didn’t have much confidence. I wanted to meet new people and make friends, but I found it hard to talk to others because I have a speech impediment. I also wanted to get better at maths because I struggle with money and working out costs. I found the course online and thought I would try it out. I hoped that coming to Adult Education Wolverhampton would help me feel more confident and give me something to do. I wanted to feel like I had a purpose and to push myself to do more things. My big goal is to be able to help others one day as a classroom support assistant, helping other people who need extra support like I do. Coming to college was a big step for me, but I wanted to improve and give myself a better future.

Coming to Adult Education Wolverhampton has made a big difference in my life. My confidence has grown so much, and I feel much better talking to people. I have made new friends, which is something I really wanted. The best part has been my work experience, where I met lots of people and felt like I was really doing something useful.

My handwriting has got better since I started, and I am also able to use money better. Learning has helped my mental health a lot, especially after COVID, which was a really hard time for me. I lost people during the pandemic, and it made me feel very low. But coming to college gave me a reason to get out of the house, meet new people, and feel happier.

Now, I feel part of my community, and I can see a future for myself. Attending classes at AEW has helped me feel good about myself, and I always feel happy when I come here. My next step is to volunteer as a support worker at AEW and take my maths and English Level 2 exams.