Success Stories

Pathway for Progression

We all have dreams and one learner on OCNYHR’s Offender Learning programme has taken the first steps to make her dream a reality.

Frustrated by always having had temporary jobs, the learner discussed her future with the programme tutor. It transpired that she had a long-held ambition to be a paramedic – a dream which she had kept alive since completing a First Aid course several years previously.

Supported by her tutor, she began to work towards a National Open College Network (NOCN) Qualification for Progression. These uniquely flexible qualifications enable learners to progress towards their qualification in their own time by accumulating credits for each unit they complete. And they can combine units in different subject areas so that their learning is really tailored to what they want to do.

Qualifications for Progression are a great way for people to develop confidence in their ability to learn new skills and progress towards a brighter future.

This learner has successfully moved on to a higher level First Aid  Course with the Red Cross and is hoping to progress onto an Access to Higher Education Course at York College.

Door Opens to a New Future

Tracey Martin from Pontefract was a ‘stay at home’ mum who got back into education by doing a family learning course called Busy Babies with the WEA. Inspired by this, she then went on to complete the Helping in Schools programme.

Tracey was also encouraged by the WEA to take their Teacher Training Course and is currently employed by them as a tutor for Helping in Schools and other family learning courses.

Helping in Schools is a course for voluntary helpers in primary schools. The course introduces learners to the workings of a primary school and its curriculum. It gives learners experience of practical activities and acts for many as a ‘return to learn’ course which gives them the opportunity to explore some key current educational issues.

It was developed by the WEA in partnership with OCNYHR. The first course ran in West Yorkshire in the autumn of 1994. Since then, over 15,000 learners have enrolled on the course which has spread across the country and now covers 83 local authorities.

Successful learner Tracey stated: “Education has opened many doors for me; it has done wonders for my self-esteem and my self-confidence. Five years ago I could not have foreseen myself doing half of the things I have done in this last year. I now believe that I have the ability to do anything I set my mind to - and that is a truly liberating feeling.”