CHANGE YOUR STORY

At the heart of our campaign are our learning ambassadors – take a look below at their inspirational stories.

They have all taken the first step to turn their lives around to build a better future for themselves, their family and their community. Adult learning has been key to each of their success stories and for many a lifeline. Become inspired by clicking on any of the images below to read or watch their story. This is what adult learning can do for you, you can change your story too.

Walid Musa Albuqai

Walid Musa Albuqai grew up in Syria but was forced to flee the country with his wife and three daughters ten years ago because of…

Read Walid's Story

Rachel Parker

Rachel Parker was born into a chaotic home life with alcoholic parents and little support at the time for her development and schooling. After being…

Read Rachel's Story

John Gates

John Gates, 82, lives in Maesteg and comes from a family of miners. He started working at Coegnant Colliery at just 15 and worked his…

Read John's Story

Fatma Al Nahdy

When Fatma Al Nahdy made the journey to the UK from Yemen in 2015, she didn’t speak any English and due to the ongoing wars…

Read Fatma's Story
John Spence

John Spence

John began his learning journey with the Open University in 2010, graduating seven years later with a BSc (Hons) in Health Sciences, an achievement he…

Read John's Story
Rhiannon Norfolk

Rhiannon Norfolk

Having the opportunity to learn Welsh again was a key factor in Rhiannon Norfolk’s decision to move back to Wales. She inherited her love of…

Read Rhiannon's Story
Catrin Pugh

Catrin Pugh

Catrin’s life changed forever in 2013 when she suffered third degree burns to 96% of her body in a coach crash in France, she was…

Read Catrin's Story
Scott Jenkinson

Scott Jenkinson

Ten years ago, Scott Jenkinson was struggling with substance misuse and was homeless. But thanks to adult learning, he has turned his life around. He…

Read Scott's Story
Joseff Gnagbo

Joseff Oscar Gnagbo

Joseff Gnagbo was brought up on the Ivory Coast but due to unrest was forced to seek asylum in Wales. Then in just over a…

Read Joseff's Story
Ralph Handscomb

Ralph Handscomb

Retiree Ralph Handscomb, from Merthyr Tydfil has helped people search for jobs during lockdown, he’s a learner and a volunteer working with Merthyr Tydfil County…

Read Ralph's Story
EMMA Wrexham

Emma Williams

Wrexham-born, Emma Williams had left home by the age of 14. Experiencing problems with her mental health and addiction, she found herself homeless in her…

Read Emma's Story

Vale People First Men’s Group

Formed in 2012, Vale People First Men’s Group offers men in the community a safe space to learn new life skills and connect with each…

Read Vale's Story

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 has mild…

Read Ewan's Story

Clare Palmer

Clare Palmer left school at 14 with no qualifications. Clare was passionate about helping others and dreamed of a career where she could give something…

Read Clare's Story
Rose Probert

Rose Probert

Single mum Rose from Pembrokeshire left school without any grade C or above GCSEs but had always dreamt of becoming a Special Needs teacher. She…

Read Rose's Story

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…

Read Tom's Story

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…

Read Zaina's Story
Natalie Lintern

Natalie Lintern

Family learning has had a transformational impact on Natalie Lintern and her family. After several abusive relationships and battling drug addiction, she was bringing up…

Read Natalie's Story
Marilyn Llewellyn

Marilyn Llewellyn

Lynnie Llewellyn attends two weekly classes to learn Welsh at Foundation Level 1 & 2 and regularly attends extra day schools and weekend courses to…

Read Marilyn's Story
Emily Harding

Emily Harding

Emily was driven to return to learning so that she could have the skills to support her little boy, who has additional learning needs. Emily…

Read Emily's Story
Sam Gardner

Sam Gardner

Sam always dreamed of becoming a primary school teacher so at the age of 18 he embarked on a BA Honours degree in Education Studies…

Read Sam's Story
Lynda Sullivan

Lynda Sullivan

Lynda Sullivan was suffering from agoraphobia and depression in 2001 when a leaflet for adult learning came through her door. ‘For 3 years I barely…

Read Lynda's Story

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 #neverstoplearning

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.