Adult student, Sarah Cookson, has suffered with extensive debilitating pain for many years. 

Passionate about helping others with similar disabilities, she embarked on her learning journey at Keighley College to become a qualified beauty therapist, resulting in the opening of her business ‘Healing Hands Holistics’. 

The right choice

Sarah’s medical situation meant she had been out of work for a while, however she had always been interested in beauty and was ready for a new challenge.

“My daughter was studying a media hair and makeup course at Keighley College and it was encouraging to see the college go above and beyond to support her with her education and wellbeing. 

“I was asked by her tutor, Clare Ravenscroft, if I was interested in taking a course. Although I’d been out of education for years and lacked confidence, I thought this could be a fantastic opportunity to rediscover myself and pursue my passion.

“During my time at college, I have studied Complementary Therapies Level 3, Beauty Therapy Level 2 and I’m looking to complete the Counselling Level 3 qualification next year.

“I’m currently studying Beauty Therapy Level 3 and I absolutely love it. My tutors are incredibly knowledgeable and we’ve covered topics such as mechanical massage, gel nails, body analysis, product and service promotions and anatomy.”

The beauty of learning

Although apprehensive about returning to college as a mature student, Sarah felt instantly at ease with the group.

“I have always been made to feel part of my class; everyone is so friendly and supportive – my age has never been a barrier to learning. 

“In addition to my beauty studies, I have also gained my maths GCSE with the college. This subject was always something I struggled with previously, but the teaching methods and support meant I passed with flying colours.

“The college is amazing, we have large classrooms with small class sizes, meaning we get valuable one-to-one time with tutors. There is a real sense of community on campus, each student is made to feel like a person rather than a number.”

Back in business 

Since beginning college, Sarah has gained the skills and confidence to start her own beauty and complementary therapy studio.

“My experience at college has inspired me to open my own studio, Healing Hands Holistics, where I practise all the treatments I’ve learnt during my courses. 

“I suffer with fibromyalgia, spinal arthritis, spinal degeneration and scoliosis – all of which give me extensive debilitating pain. Although I still have many medical, physical and mental health challenges, coming into college has provided an anchor of support and helps me stay focused.

“Because of my own experiences, it’s really important for me to offer treatments for people who have disabilities similar to my own. My learning has allowed me to gain practical knowledge to be able to safely and effectively treat this category of clients, as I know how hard it can be to find therapists who have knowledge on certain medical and physical issues.

 “Coming back to education has reignited my spark, giving me the opportunity to rediscover myself, my abilities and passions.”

Discover more about our beauty courses here.

Foundation degree student, Asia Iqbal, returned to college to continue her education after getting married and raising children.

Despite a lack of support from her family, she was determined to develop her knowledge and carve her own career path.

Return to education

Asia was out of education for many years and felt it was the right time to enhance her skill set.

“After getting married, I felt I had lost some independence. I was really keen to rebuild this, along with my confidence, so decided to embark on a new journey at Keighley College. 

“My decision was met with resistance from my family, which made the return to learning even harder, however I knew that I needed to focus on myself and eventually gain employment so I can support my family.”

The right decision

Asia’s academic journey started with a Keighley College community English course at her children’s school, St Mary’s Primary School. 

“The English course was amazing, it allowed me to meet new people and gain so much confidence. The programme opened up some fantastic opportunities for me to explore. 

“After I completed the course, I went on to study at the college’s Textile Academy, where I learnt to use the industrial flat bed machines and the overlockers.  The academy enabled me to develop key practical skills while also gaining valuable experience of a work environment.

Leap of faith

The brave decision to return to her studies helped Asia feel valued, providing her with a real sense of achievement.

“Throughout my time at college, the tutors have been absolutely brilliant and often acted as a second family. They were always keen to support me wherever possible and through regular encouragement and appreciation, allowed me to gain so much confidence. My tutors believed in me when no one else did; they gave me the energy to keep going and not give up.

“I would advise anyone in my situation to take the opportunity, overcome the barriers and don’t give up because it’s worth every minute. As long as you stay focused and believe in yourself, you can always find a solution to any problem. At the college, there is so much help available and I’d encourage students to always ask for support if they need it.”

Exciting future ahead

Asia hopes to find a role suited to her ambitions once she completes her foundation degree.

“I’m currently studying my foundation degree in supporting teaching and learning in schools. Once complete, I hope to find a job so I can support myself and my children.

“The programme has given me much needed independence and a real purpose in life. I feel incredibly valued and optimistic about my future. I would encourage all adult learners to return to education to pursue their ambitions; it gives you an immense sense of achievement.”
Find out more about our courses on offer here.

Tending to people’s needs is something that adult learner, Kelli Smith, has always longed to do. 

After working as a healthcare support worker at Airedale Hospital for over 17 years, she decided to take her career one step further and pursue nursing.

Juggling parenting and a hospital job is challenging enough; however Kelli has found a new lease of life after returning to college at 37 years old to study Functional Skills in English and maths.

A new direction

Changing careers can be a daunting prospect for many, however as Kelli’s children got older, she decided now was the right time to take a different direction.

“Ever since my children were born, they have been my first priority, as I’ve always decided to concentrate on them. However, now that they’re getting older, I’ve had time to reflect on my long-standing ambition to pursue my career further; deciding to take the plunge back into the learning pool.

“I’ve always held nursing in the highest regard and had ideas of changing my career eventually, but I had to make a conscious effort to build my confidence and go for it. I was aware of Keighley College’s community-centered reputation, therefore I chose to sharpen up my English and maths skills.”

Managing responsibilities

Kelli was faced with the challenging task of handling parenthood and working through college studies – all while working at a busy hospital during the pandemic.

“The various lockdowns upheaved our everyday lives; especially with switching to home learning when bubbles collapsed. My children and I worked tirelessly to ensure their work was completed to the best of their ability, and the knowledge I learnt through my college courses really helped me support them.

“It was important for me to stay focused on my college studies, so I always made the effort to join additional revision classes and attend every lesson. My time at college was phenomenal; I felt incredibly supported by my tutors who were genuinely committed to boosting my skills and confidence.”

Continuing lifelong learning

This year, Keighley College is taking part in the Festival of Learning; a national campaign to celebrate the achievements of adult learners. 

“I would encourage everyone to continue learning as they get older; lifelong learning gives you the skills to adapt to an ever-changing environment. 

“I was over the moon to have passed my English and maths courses this year, meaning I’m one step closer to my dream nursing job. I’ll be returning to Keighley College in September to gain my GCSE maths.”

As part of the festival, Keighley College is working with partners across the region to deliver a range of taster sessions, short courses and open days for adult learners. Find out more here and discover our calendar of events.

When Husen Ali moved to the UK in 2017 the then 16-year-old’s most pressing goal was to master English.

Now, following lots of hard work at first Keighley College and then Leeds Sixth Form College, Husen is half way through his A levels with his sights firmly fixed on pursuing a law degree at university.

He credits his tutors for giving him the skills and confidence to ‘dream bigger’ and gain the qualifications that have helped him decide on his future career – and says the value of lifelong learning can’t be overstated.

Broadening horizons

He said: “When I came to the UK around four years ago I could speak very little English, so to improve that I enrolled on an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course at Keighley College.

“The time that I spent there was unforgettable as I met fantastic people, the staff were always polite and always helped me when I needed it, and the students were very diligent and fun to be around.

“On top of that, I consider myself very lucky because without the teachers that I had I wouldn’t be where I am today: they guided me and encouraged me to always do my best.

“At first, I was going to choose the engineering route at Keighley College but then one of my teachers suggested I should do my GCSEs first, as that would allow me to expand my options and help me discover what I truly like.

“If it wasn’t for that comment I wouldn’t have enrolled at Leeds Sixth Form College and discovered my passion for law.

“So I am really grateful that I met such fantastic people at Keighley who always pushed me and encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone so I could improve myself.”

A chance to keep improving and growing

With his GCSEs successfully acquired Husen is now studying hard for the A levels he needs to secure an offer to study law at university.

His educational journey has been a challenging but very rewarding one, and he is keen to encourage others to find the courses that will help them follow their dreams – whatever their age.

He said: “I have just completed my first year of A levels and in September I’ll start my final year and then go to university.

“My first choice would be Durham University, which belongs to the Russell Group. Although the acceptance rate is 69.4%, which shows that getting into Durham can be a bit competitive, I am confident that I’m capable of meeting the requirements needed.”

Reflecting on the Festival of Learning and its celebration of lifelong learning, he added: “No matter how old you are, pursuing education is never too late as education is not bound by age.

“Lifelong learning will allow you to keep improving and grow as a person, also it will give you a sense of satisfaction as learning new things gives us a feeling of accomplishment.”

To find out more about courses at Keighley College visit keighleycollege.ac.uk/courses-apprenticeships.

A wide range of courses are available to study for free, through the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, for anyone aged over 19 who doesn’t currently hold a Level 3 (A level equivalent) qualification. For more details visit leedscitycollege.ac.uk/lifetime-skills.

For more information about the Festival of Learning here leedscitycollege.ac.uk/festival-of-learning.

Keighley College, a member of Luminate Education Group, has teamed up with partners across the Leeds City Region to host a series of free short courses for adults, as part of the national Festival of Learning.  

The group is working alongside local organisations and education providers to get adults in the region back into education, following the challenges of the pandemic. 

Now in its 29th year, the Festival of Learning (formerly Adult Learners’ Week) was launched to celebrate adult students and encourage others to participate in lifelong learning. 

Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education at Leeds City Council, said: “Over recent years, although Leeds has continued to prioritise adult education, we’ve seen it become less of a priority across the country. A lack of confidence amongst adult learners due to the pandemic, paired with historic funding cuts and reduced support, has resulted in the lowest adult participation in a decade. This partnership aims to celebrate the important role learning can play in adult lives and encourage them back into education.

“Skills are very high on the agenda for business recovery and growth post-pandemic. The partnership reflects that adult learning is available at all levels and stages of life; whether that’s starting from scratch with a new skill, brushing up and updating knowledge or taking it to an advanced level.”

As part of the Festival of Learning, adults will be encouraged to develop skills, enhance their employability and improve wellbeing through a range of taster sessions, residential days, virtual seminars and open days.

Yultan Mellor, Principal and Chief Executive at Northern College, added: “The festival is a superb opportunity for us to shine a spotlight on the different expressions of adult learning across the region, including community, college, home and residential settings. Our collaborative activities aim to showcase the benefits of adult education, including flexibility, financial support, personalised experiences and positive wellbeing outcomes.”

Set to launch in July, the Festival of Learning activities will kickstart with a Returning to Education: Support for Adult Learners webinar at University Centre Leeds on 20 July. Additional upcoming events include Five Ways to Wellbeing course at Northern College on 22 July.

Ann-Marie Spry, Vice Principal of Adults at Luminate Education Group, commented: “Adult education is central to the rebuilding of our economy in a post-Covid environment. Therefore, we are working with key stakeholders in the area to demonstrate how lifelong learning can better equip learners to adapt to unexpected change and enhance their skills, in order to suit the ever-changing job market.

“This partnership brings together experts across the region to identify how we can work together to achieve shared objectives to raise the profile of this vital agenda. Drawing expertise and insight from our partners helps us to understand the current climate, allowing us to overcome barriers to learning and champion adult education.”

In the next academic year, the partnership will be encouraging learners to take part in ‘Have a Go’ activities, providing adults with the opportunity to try different courses and discover their passion. Rebuilding relationships with the community will also be a key focus for partnership activities, including taster sessions in local community centres.

The group, including Leeds City College, Keighley College, Harrogate College, White Rose Academies Trust and University Centre Leeds, is working with partners including West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council, Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges, University of Leeds, The Prince’s Trust and Northern College, to deliver shared adult learning objectives.

Find out more about the Festival of Learning partnership by following the hashtag #FoLpartners on social media and discover our upcoming events here.