INSPIRE! ADULT LEARNING AWARD WINNERS
Meet our 2022 Inspire! Adult Learning Award winners
The Inspire! Awards are an annual celebration that recognises the life changing achievements of people, projects, and adult learning provision in Wales.
Browse through this year’s award winner stories to find out more about the steps they took to build their confidence, take a second chance, and change their story through education and skills.

Different Past Shared Futures Award Winner
Hisham Saeed
Hisham Saeed was 20 when he arrived in the UK in 2017. His mother had died when he was very young, living in a village…
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Skills for Work Award
Jenna Smith
When the pandemic hit, Jenna Smith, was based in a hospital in a hospital working as a Clinical Health Support Worker, having achieved a Level…
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Life Change and Progression Award
Kirsty Harris
Kirsty Harris left school at 14 without any qualifications, now aged 36 she has graduated from the Open University and is moving onto a master’s…
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Life Change and Progression Award
Karryann Healey
Karryann Healey was three years old when she was put into the care system and adopted but living with abuse and the turmoil of her…
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Starting Out - Welsh Beginner Award
Tom Dyer
Tom Dyer turned the pandemic into an opportunity to try something new. “When Covid came along and I was made redundant, I decided to move…
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Active Wales Award
Lael Heaney
Lael Heaney, was brought up in a difficult, and sometimes unhappy environment that didn’t encourage her to pursue an education. When she was 16, she…
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Essential Skills for Life Award
Bethan Humpreys
Bethan Humphreys had a difficult time at school, she was bullied and left without many qualifications. Working as a school kitchen and classroom assistant, she…
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Different Past Shared Futures Award
Zaina Aljumma
Zaina Aljumma arrived in Wales three years ago after fleeing civil war in Syria. In the short time since her arrival, she has not only…
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Hywel Francis Award for Community Impact
Springboard
Springboard, a community learning project developed by Learning Pembrokeshire has been bringing family learning opportunities to schools and communities in some of the poorest parts…
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Workplace Change Makers Award
Ceredigion Council Learning and Development Team
When the first UK wide lockdown hit during the Covid19 pandemic, Ceredigion Council’s Learning & Development team knew they had a big task on their…
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Wales for Future Generations Award
Groundwork North Wales
Groundwork North Wales supports the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of communities across North Wales through educational projects and activities. The WeCare project was…
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Ageing Well Award
Val and John Snare
Grandparents, John and Val Snare, have gone back to school so they could help their grandsons with lockdown learning. Both in their seventies, they help…
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Young Adult Learner Award
Ewan Heppenstall
Ewan Heppenstall enrolled at Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) in 2018, initially studying an Entry Level 2 Work Skills Programme. The 23 year old has…
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Different Past: Shared Futures Award - Highly Commended Nominee
Ida Mirzaee
Ida Mirzaee arrived in Wales in 2020 after fleeing her home country of Iran. “When I first came to Wales, just before the Covid-19 pandemic,…
Read the storyDownload a copy of the 2022 Inspire! Adult Learning Awards profile book.
Find out more about the awards by visiting the Learning and Work Institute website
WORKING WALES
Learn new skills and start your next chapter
Whatever your situation, if you’re passionate about learning a new skill, we’ll help you explore your options with free, impartial advice on the training programmes that can help you change your story.
Working Wales is for anyone over the age of 16 across Wales to access expert advice and guidance to help you overcome obstacles that you may be facing to get you into work.
So, whether you need help searching for jobs, writing a CV, preparing for an interview, finding work placement, learning new skills, understanding redundancy rights, childcare support, building self-confidence, or even where to turn next this is the right place to get the help you need.