ETEC Development Trust learner wins top award
ETEC Development Trust learner Audrey Thompson has proved she’s simply the best by winning a top learning award.
Audrey, 53, of Grangetown, Sunderland, was voted Learner of the Year at the Family Adult and Community Learning Awards organised by Sunderland City Council at the Marriott Hotel, Sunderland.
She won the award after studying for community development qualifications for more than a year with the Hendon-based charity.
Audrey now hopes to pass on her knowledge to a new generation of community development workers by studying for an A1 Assessors’ Award. The qualification will allow her to assess the work of NVQ candidates in community development.
Audrey said: “I was shocked and surprised when I found out I had won the Learner of the Year Award.
“I thought I would be the last person to be given the award after hearing everyone else’s stories. It was a very emotional experience.
“Hopefully I will get the chance to use these qualifications to help other people – as well as move on in my own career.
“The qualifications have certainly given me a better understanding of community development work and what is involved.”
Audrey started her studies at ETEC with the four-week First Steps Community Development Work course, which was funded by Sunderland City Council who received funding from the Learning and Skills Council.
She progressed on to the nine-week Introduction to Community Development Work before completing her NVQ Level 2 in Community Development Work.
Audrey had just three months to complete the Train to Gain-funded NVQ Level 2 as funding for her last job ran out just three months after she started the course in January 2010.
Audrey, who worked as a Voluntary Sector Support Assistant/East Forum based at Sunderland CVS, is now looking for full-time work.
Louise Harlanderson, Community Development Work Manager at ETEC, said: “I was proud to nominate Audrey for the award after all she had contributed to the courses.”
Sandra Kenny, Family Adult and Community Manager, for Sunderland City Council, said: “The awards paid tribute to the creativity, energy and determination , which people such as Audrey, bring to their learning.
“They inspire others to take up the challenge and find out for themselves the difference which learning can make to not only their lives but also the lives of the people around them.”
Words and photo by ETEC.