A Liverpool City Region resident supported by the Households into Work programme in St Helens has been awarded a Determined Learner Award for her efforts in English.

Yasmin Hafyan came to this country with no English language skills. Although she found it difficult at times, she never gave up trying to learn in her Adult and Community Learning English classes.

Through Households into Work she has also been attending one to one tuition for the past six months further advancing her progress to the point where she can now read books, write about her family and chat on the phone in English.

As part of the National Festival of Learning, a special event was held at the World of Glass in St Helens to celebrate the achievements of adult learners who have used learning to transform and improve their lives.

St Helens Council’s deputy leader Sue Murphy presented the awards. She said:

“All of our winners have worked so hard to get to this stage. From using a computer for the first time – to travelling half way across the world to find a safe place to bring up their families while developing and progressing their English communication skills. These people have shown that learning is possible at any age, for any reason.”