The UK's most up-to-date social housing and public sector news website
Ged O'Neill, New Charter Housing Trust Group's Learner of the Year with Tony Saunders of unionlearn
A mobile caretaker from Hyde has scooped the title of Learner of the Year at New Charter’s People Awards night.
Yet Ged O’Neill of Ashton Road was surprised to win the award, which is sponsored by unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation.
“I went to a lunchtime event which promoted learning opportunities. It concentrated on numeracy and literacy skills which I felt I was OK on. But it got me thinking about what other opportunities there might be for me” he said. “My current ambition is to be a caretaking team leader. Like most jobs, an IT qualification comes in handy.”
Ged enrolled on an ITQ level 2, and just five months later had passed. He’s now signed up to both ITQ level 3 and the Institute of Leadership & Management course run by New Charter. And like many converts to learning, he is very enthusiastic about its value.
“I’m only 44, but they call me a late life learner”, he shrugged. “I do admit I left school empty-handed. I went straight into the weavers shed at Ashton Brothers in Hyde for the next 21 years. And I’ve done a few years in construction before I started with New Charter in 2007. If I look back, though, I’ve been learning for a long time.”
One irony not lost on Ged is his confidence to build a computer. “Before I did my ITQ, I could build you a computer, no problem. But ask me how to work it – well, I was struggling.”
Tony Saunders, union development co-ordinator with unionlearn, presented a framed certificate and £200 prize to Ged while he was at work keeping New Charter’s neighbourhoods clean and tidy. Tony said: “Ged is just the sort of union member we want to encourage back into learning. He realised his progress can be helped by a commitment to brush up his skills and gain the qualifications. He’s learning locally and has the support of his union learning representatives and employer as well as unionlearn. He is a worthy winner.”
Ged was selected from more than 200 employees currently following learning and development opportunities at New Charter.
