Heidi
Slatter is studying on the NCFE Volunteering course.
She is always positive and optimistic determined to succeed.
She has had a placement working with children with special needs
and undertaken other relevant study such as first aid, moving
and handling, and child protection. Heidi has overcome dyslexia
and managed to provide a good standard of written work by using
a laptop in the sessions. Her Tutor Gail Tucker says: She contributes
with enthusiasm to the class. This course is important to Heidi
because she likes to keep occupied learning new skills.
Heidi likes working
in a small group where everyone accepts me as you are. She says:
I find social situations hard as I suffer from autism as well
as dyslexia. I realise everyone has problems and obstacles in
life but they can be overcome if you have the right support
to deal with them.
I like my volunteering
course because no one pressured me to do things I didn't want
to do. The College have been very helpful and supportive, allowing
me to reach my full potential. I've gained self-confidence,
enjoyment, fun, friendship, self esteem, new skills and knowledge
to pursue my chosen career.
Donna Young
knows what it feels like not to have done well at
school and how good it is to overcome these barriers. She began
learning on a Family Literacy Project with her son at their
Primary school. Next she enrolled on a Move On Literacy course
and then Maths. After achieving the Level 1 certificates she
progressed onto Level 2, getting certificates in both Adult
Literacy & Numeracy. She is now improving her computer skills
with Learn Direct at the Library.
Marie Hubbard, Community
Development Worker nominated Donna because she has learnt such
a lot in a short time. Her skills were poor and it took a lot
of courage to come along and take the first step. She has gone
from strength to strength, showing commitment and a sense of
humour. Even with set backs, like her house catching fire, she
didn't stop attending classes. She is determined and has enthusiastically
studied in her own time to make sure she really understands
each maths topic. In the process she has improved her self confidence
and future employment prospects.
Donna said: I didn't
think I was capable of completing these courses, especially
Numeracy. Success has encouraged me to continue with my learning.
I have also gained the ability to help my son with his learning.
My future is a lot brighter due to signing up for that first
course.
The Learning Supporter
of the Year was David Chegwidden . David is
valued volunteer with ACE. He helps each Thursday welcoming
disabled members by taking the teas and coffees around and later
serving lunches. He is always cheerful and is becoming chattier
as he gains in confidence. He also helps in Gary Hodge 's computer
classes where he assists learners who need one-to-one help.
He is reliable, polite and helpful, applying himself to all
the tasks that he is given.
His nominator Rob
Boyd said: David is working with Penn Wooding and me to build
a site to publicise the work that ACE does to improve the lives
of disabled adults in Torbay . He is a whiz kid on the computer
and has quickly mastered the complex procedures required. He
is very patient and precise; he scrutinises the contents carefully
taking an active part in editing the material to be included.
He is a real asset and we couldn't manage without him.
David wrote on his
form: I feel a sense of purpose by helping others to achieve.
It is rewarding to see the pleasure in other peoples faces when
they gain new skills. Helping others is a way of giving something
back to the community.
The Group of the Year
was the ACE Pottery Class. Members of this
group have a wide range of disabilities including visual impairment,
stokes, learning disabilities, brain injuries, cerebral palsy
and other medical conditions. Their ages range from 40 to almost
90. They all have one thing in common, the love of pottery and
the sense of accomplishment it brings. Their tutor, Tessa Amies,
took over at short notice when they were committed to a public
exhibition of work in the Lighthouse Gallery. She had only a
couple of weeks to help them produce masks and pots. The resulting
pieces were outstanding.
Tessa said: The group
works well together, helping and supporting each other. They
have made excellent coil pots decorated with Pop Art images
and are now producing slab pots. We have a special group of
volunteers who enjoy helping everyone to achieve some great
results.
Sharon Williams, their
Care Worker, believes that people forget their problems and
disabilities as they relax working with clay. When they get
together in the pottery room she says there is no cross word
and the smiles go on for miles with everyone each other. |
Primary
