A celebration of adult learning

By We Love Creative

13 Jul 2022

The achievements of adult learners were applauded at an awards ceremony celebrating strength against adversity, selfless acts of kindness and a true determination to succeed.

Lancashire Adult Learning held its annual awards at Winckley Square in Preston where the learners, many of whom have faced significant obstacles, had their achievements recognised with an array of STAR awards.

Awards were presented for progress made in academic subjects such as English, ICT, and Mathematics alongside awards for contributions in areas such as Health and Social Care and Volunteering.

Phil Wilkinson, chair of governors at Nelson and Colne College Group, said: “The services provided by Lancashire Adult Learning play a vital role in the lives of all the learners we serve at the college group and, as a result, our wider communities.

“Our learners display such levels of determination towards improving their own lives, it is essential that their efforts are recognised.

“Over the course of the evening we heard inspirational stories of individuals who have overcome staggering odds to forge better lives for themselves and go on to make real contributions to our communities.”

Among the evening’s winners was Carl Ablott.

Against a history of addiction, homelessness, and dyslexia, Carl went on to enrol on a Health and Social Care course and demonstrated such resolve that he has since moved from voluntary work to paid employment.

Along the way, he achieved a Level 1 and Level 2 in Mental Health and is now working towards a Level 3 in Mental Health as well as functional studies in English and Maths.

Another of the evening’s victors was Catherine Gandolfo, proving that age doesn’t have to be a barrier to learning or to keeping fit.

Catherine won the ‘Health and Wellbeing Star’ award for helping others to safely exercise at home during the pandemic.

On her award, Catherine said: “I’ve always done keep fit and enjoy yoga but I hadn’t been doing any exercise for a while and wanted to get back into it. I saw the course with Lancashire Adult Learning and thought I’d give it a go.

“It’s been a wonderful experience and a great way to build new friendships. This was particularly true during the pandemic when loneliness became a real issue for many.

“The course has since led me onto other Lancashire Adult Learning courses, including Italian, Mindfulness, Relaxation and IT.”

The evening’s celebrations ended with Andrea Horrocks taking the ‘Overall Learner of the Year’ award.

Andrea first enrolled on LAL’s adult community courses in 2019 to gain knowledge, skills and certificates to support her role as a volunteer role within the community.

Since then she has become the Founder and Director of watchUSgrow, a charitable organisation based in Chorley which meets the needs of local community members experiencing issues with substance misuse, mental health, deprivation, isolation, or societal marginalisation.

On the tales of personal achievement, Phil added: “Carl, Claire, Andrea, and all of our other learners show just what people can accomplish when they have the desire to succeed and a great support network around them.

“Whatever a person’s motivation for returning to learning, there has never been a better time to do it.

And, with Nelson & Colne College Group recently deemed ‘Outstanding’ across the board in a recent Ofsted inspection, adult learners in our region have the ideal environment in which to resume their studies and build new lives for themselves.”

If you would like to know more about our adult learning courses, visit www.lal.ac.uk

Latest news

1

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes Royal Bowland Park street scene NEW.jpg.jpg

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes

29 Oct 2025

2

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth - Representatives from the University's Business School, local SMEs and the IOEE

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth

29 Oct 2025

3

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire BAE Typhoon ECRS Mk2 Radar

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire

28 Oct 2025

4

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold The Mill at Conder Green

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold

28 Oct 2025

5

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm

27 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
28 Oct 2025 - 18 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

16:46 - 16:45

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The AI Lab: E-commerce
Ai Lab ecommerce (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin