INSPIRE Achievements Celebrated!

‘Launch’ – an Adult Learning Project based in Monkton – held their first awards ceremony recently. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Monkton INSPIRE! Awards 2016 celebrated the achievements of the community learners participating in the project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards were attended by adult learners nominated for awards as well as community volunteers who have helped the project to become such a huge success. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The volunteers included Dot who manages Monkton Community Centre, and Liz Jenkins and Pauline Walters. Monkton School’s chair of governors Sue Hutchings also attended to support learners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There were six awards presented to learners as well as an overall winner. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Andrea Hewitt was presented with the ‘New starter award’; Sophie Roberts received the ‘Most improved learner award; the ‘Progression award’ went to Leeanne Morgan; Sian Jenkins won the ‘Foundation Degree award’; Kim Price and Lisa Wilson won the joint ‘Honours Degree award and the Overall winner of the 2016 Monkton INSPIRE! Award went to Lisa Wilson. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards were organised by Shelley Morris, headteacher at Monkton School and Kellie Bellmaine, project coordinator for Launch. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Said Shelley: “This was a truly inspiring evening, celebrating adult learning in Monkton.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Presenting the Foundation Degree and Honours degree award was Jean Williams, programme director for University of Wales, Trinity St David’s. Jean, along with Shelley, started Monkton’s Foundation Degree in Education and Social Inclusion five years ago. The degree has attracted over 100 people to study for the qualification in their local community without the need to travel to University. A total of 37 students have now graduated with a full BA Honours degree. The programme’s success means that it will soon start its sixth year in Monkton, with new programme director Cindy Hunt at the helm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Launch are currently working closely with University of Wales, Trinity St David’s in order to provide a new degree in Youth and Community Work. Students successfully completing the programme gain a JNC Endorsed professional qualification in Youth and Community Work which is widely recognised across the world. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​