HAFLS learner's story featured in TES (Times Educational Supplement)

In our last issue, we wrote about the story of Maria Bunker from Watford who participated in a sculpture course run by the Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service.

“I’d had depression in the past and had reached a point where I was getting very down,” she says. “I was reaching 50 and didn’t know who I was any more, I didn’t have any social life.”

Bunker found out about the course from an advert on Facebook; “I was very, very anxious and nearly didn’t go through the door,” she admits. “But I did, and they were absolutely lovely and I met some wonderful people there. “It’s given me a lot more confidence; I wouldn’t have spoken to you a year ago.

Community learning should be more widespread, more readily available and accessible to people everywhere – it does make a difference. I have a life now. I had my children, I had my granddaughter, but my life was around them. Now I have a life for me.”

Maria's story made an impact online and we were contacted by a journalist from TES (Times Educational Supplement) who wanted to feature Maria's story in an article he was writing to investigate the barriers preventing more joined-up working between healthcare and education.

Maria is just one of the many learners on our courses with inspiring back stories, highlighting the importance of our courses that are run in the community, for the community. Please do take a moment to 'like' and follow our Facebook and Twitter feeds (@HAFLS) to see our latest events and news from the HAFLS community.