Never too late to learn
2:11pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
ADULT Learners' Week, running from May 17 to 23, is the largest festival of learning in the UK, organised by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE).
As well as encouraging thousands of adults to return to learning, the festival is also a chance to recognise those who have already made a huge effort and achieved their learning goals with the Adult Learners' Week Awards.
This year's awards commend a woman who has gone from GCSE maths level to a first class degree in just six years and a beauty therapist who has undergone a dramatic career change to retrain as a car mechanic.
Adult education is not just about revisting all those conventional curriculum subjects we have to learn at school. There are lots of exciting events happening, including martial arts, digital photography and creative drawing workshops.
Incorporated into the festival is Cultural Diversity Weekend, which features the Dance Off 2008 taking place at more than 100 events across the country.
Rachel Thomson, senior campaigns officer at NIACE, said: "Adult Learners' Week is the perfect time to see the kind of positive impact learning can have on your life.
"The remarkable stories of the inspirational learners we celebrate with our awards illustrate just how learning can completely transform your life for the better."
During Adult Learners' Week, the Test the Town team will be out across the region, helping people to improve their maths and English skills.
Test the Town is part of the Move On campaign, a national skills-boosting initiative, and uses an online test to allow people to assess their current ability, before improving their skills with free courses.
Courses are taking place at colleges, community centres and Leardirect locations, at times which are flexible to suit you.
The Test the Town team will be visiting Bromley town centre on May 20 and Orpington High Street on May 20 and 24, 10am to 2pm.
Dressed up as clowns, they are easy to spot!