Mum-of-two is region's top learner

A WARRINGTON mum who was forced to quit her job because of progressive heart disease has been awarded the title Outstanding Individual Learner in the North West
Julie Davies, from Latchford has gained a 1st Class Honours BSc in Applied Psychology and also won a British Psychological Society Prize.
She took up learning, aged 30, after her illness forced her to leave her job with Royal Mail.
Julie decided to get her life back on track by signing-up for an adult learner programme at Priestley College which led her on to winning the British Psychological Society prize.
Ten years on from the initial Level 2 literacy, numeracy and CLAIT courses, Julie has gained a 1st Class Honours BSc in Applied Psychology from Liverpool John Moores University – studying part-time while bringing up two children – and aims to become a clinical psychologist.
Glennis Hassall, her nominator and first tutor at Priestley, all those years ago, said: “Julie felt she was on the scrapheap. She has a huge personality, which I believe to some extent masked her lack of self-confidence.”
But the keys to success were her “have a go” mentality.
“She also has a generosity to contribute time and effort both to others who find themselves in the same boat as herself and to the local community.”
Julie said: “My learning journey has made an incredible difference to my life and, as an advocate of lifelong learning; I expect it will continue to do so.”
Rachel Thomson, senior campaigns officer at NIACE (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education), said, “The incredible stories of all our Adult Learners’ Week award winners show just what can be achieved in life through determination, imagination and ambition.
“Julie, like all this year’s award winners, is proof of how learning can absolutely transform lives, often leading to new jobs and careers, and helping people to cope, or even overcome, the many challenges that they face.
“Hopefully millions of adults across the country will be inspired by Julie’s story to take up learning and discover for themselves a whole new raft of opportunities.”
Pictured: Julie (centre) with Glennis Hassall, Priestley’s adult curriculum manager, and principal Mike Southworth