Aqsa Forges Ahead

The following blog originally appeared in the Winter 2016 publication “Watch This Space”, the newsletter for Cardiff & Vale Community Learning Partnership learners. It has been reproduced here to give further exposure to the learning journey and to inspire others. Also important to note are the number of additional partners involved to help support a student’s education.

Student, Aqsa Ahmed-Hussein, describes how attending adult learning courses has made a big difference to her life.

At the end of the summer term, Kath, my Counselling Skills tutor informed me of an open day at Cardiff Metropolitan University. There were many interesting subjects but due to family commitments I was only able to attend the Widening Access introduction day and a 2 day accredited course on Reflective Skills. I received a certificate for attending and there was an option to complete a 3000 word portfolio where we could apply our newly learnt reflective skills to a recent learning experience. I wanted to write about the Managing Children’s Behaviour course I had attended with Cardiff Council ACL (Adult Community Learning) and my experiences as a volunteer at Lansdowne Nursery. Sadly my father became very ill and passed away so I forgot all about the portfolio until I bumped into Kath again. After a long heartfelt chat I realised that the one reason for continuing my adult education was because my dad had been so proud of my achievements over the past couple of years. I eventually completed my portfolio with a mark of 74% which was a distinction!! My children were so proud of me, but they didn’t seem surprised, as they had so much faith in me compared to my faith in myself! All the courses I have attended have given me a real boost in my confidence and made me realise that I am able to do anything that I put my mind to!

In September I started a Level 2 Teachers Assistant course and I am also continuing my ECDL course (European Computer Drivers Licence). I feel this is just the beginning. I hope to continue in my adult education journey and as a result make a positive contribution to my local community, get a good job and set a good example for my children.

As I have recently learned you never know how much time you have left so make the best use of it while you are able to do so. I would urge all adults to continue with their education.

Bawso’s Women only Community Gym – Clarence House, Cardiff Bay

The work we work we do in Cardiff Met touches the lives of lots of different people in many different ways. Although in Widening Access we have previously worked with Bawso, this article shows how other staff in the university are working with Bawso to transform the lives of people in community.

The following article is a guest post by Anthony Thomas of Sport Cardiff and it shows some great work to help support the development of a safe space for women to exercise, in partnership with different community partners.

 

 

 

 

Bawso applied to Cardiff Met and Sport Cardiff to help with funding for gym inductions. Meetings took place to discuss a way forward. The project scope was to apply for funding to train a local woman of the community, on a voluntary basis, as Gym Instructor Level 2 and Circuits Level 2.

Bawso worked with Sport Cardiff and BRG Communities First, and applied for the KickStart Grant. Bawso was able to secure funding for training, sports equipment for classes and a Cardiff Met Gym Instructor to induct the backlog of 50 new members on the waiting list.

In September 2015, we advertised, interviewed and trained our female Voluntary Gym Instructor; the project has been a success for community users, Bawso Staff and has had an impact on the survivors of domestic abuse. With the help of the gym, Bawso staff completed the half marathon this year raising £11,500. Reception staff advertise in the community via posters and mailshots and events and they co-ordinate the inductions. And Sport Cardiff and Cardiff Met have helped Bawso by donating a Treadmill to replace the existing.

Since 2015 Bawso have inducted over 70 women to use the gym and to date, there are over 150 gym members . From April 2016 they have raised £1,800 by charging a small amount for usage, to contribute towards maintenance costs and fund raise for Bawso women service users with no recourse to public funds. All the clients are aged between 16 and 56 and live locally.

All the new equipment in place

Anthony overseeing the installation of new exercise equipment

The difference that this has made to people has been clear to see and the following are a selection of some of the comments received:
“I live locally and am now able to use Bawso’s gym to keep up my fitness in a private and women only environment”
“I felt at ease with (the tutor), she is a real inspiration and offered me a lot of help and advice with my fitness and diet plan”
“I attend Bawso’s gym regularly, as it’s a small cost, I can continue to work out during school hours and feel comfortable in a women only environment”
“The gym at Bawso has helped me with my recovery as a service user”

The gym gets ready for its new users

For more info about the programme email Anthony Thomas.