Introducing…
The Learning Campaigners
by Louise Vennells

The Burngreave Community Learning Campaigners are a diverse bunch. They each draw from different experiences of living in Burngreave to help adults re-enter education. Campaigner Glenroy Powell said he learned new skills every day through dealing with people from different cultures.

"I’ve lived in Burngreave forever, but really I’ve only had to deal with my friends and my people, not the Yemeni community, the Somali community, the Pakistani community – everybody else, basically. It opens your eyes to how many positive, different people are living in the area."

What made you decide to become a Community Learning Campaigner?
A relative told me there was a job going, and I applied straight away. Before this came along I wanted to work with people with behavioural or mental health problems. I’d done some volunteering in that sort of thing. This job is great because there are a lot more education opportunities.

So what are you studying now?
Study Skills, IT, Community Skills, and an English GCSE. I got poor grades at school and it’s given me a chance to brush up. After I left school I went straight to college to do hairdressing. That idea lasted about three months. I’ve had a few different jobs and started about a million courses but they never lasted. This is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had, but working in a school for kids with behavioural problems came pretty close.

And how’s the campaigning going?
Really well. We’ve managed to get a fair few people back into education. I’ve even managed to help some of my friends get on courses. But at the end of the day it’s down to the individual and whether they’re going to stick at it. We can help them as much as we can, but when we’re not there they have to motivate themselves. We encourage people as much as possible, definitely.

What have you gained from the work?
It’s given me more initiative to do things. I took a business course in my spare time after I started work with the learning campaign. When the contract runs out next December I’d like to work part time as a teaching assistant and open a small business, or do more community work.

Burngreave Community Learning Campaign are located in Forum House on Spital Hill and can be contacted on 279 4960.

Visit their new website at http://learning.burngreave.net

Other Learning Capaigner interviews:

Issue 31, May 2003: Sarah Aref-Taha
Issue 32, June 2003: Mick Twigg
Issue 34, September 2003: Brendan
Issue 35, October 2003: Imran Rafiq
Issue 36, November 2003: Steph Briddon